becoming joyful covenant women of christ

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In some of the most notable and momentous events on

this earth, the Lord provided, as beautiful

settings for these poignant historic and monumental events, fine and splendid

gardens.

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~ The Garden of Eden ~

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve conversed and walked with God the Father and Jesus Christ,

and lived in the joy of their presence prior to being cast out

into a fallen state.

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~ The Garden of Gethsemane ~

As we contemplate the most significant yet agonizing event of all time, that of the Atonement of Jesus

Christ, we can find solace that it took place

in a garden – the Garden of Gethsemane.

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~ The Garden of the Tomb ~

The Resurrected Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene in the Garden of the Tomb, where Christ had been

laid for burial. This first appearance and testimony of Christ’s victory over physical

death brings hope to all!

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~ The Sacred Grove ~The Sacred Grove was also in a place of respite where the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father

appeared to Joseph Smith. It was in this natural garden that Joseph

Smith was taught that the Kingdom of God would be restored

in preparation for the Lord’s coming.

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“For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he

will comfort all her waste places; and

he willmake her

wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the

garden of the Lord. Joy

and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and

the voice of melody.”

— 2 Nephi 8:3

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Imagine with me another type of garden

(a metaphorical garden)

a most beautiful, exquisite, and expansive garden.

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In this garden of superb beauty is a caretaker, a Master Gardener, who

lovingly cares for every detail of His garden. His only desire is that the flowers in His garden sup with Him

daily and partake of all the nourishment He has to offer for their

well-being. In this garden there is every flower and tree imaginable.

Their beauty surpasses all, enhanced by their variety. Their uniqueness

and splendor is a wonderful reminder to all - of the love that the Gardener

has for His garden.

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The trees in this expansive garden give

strength, grandeur, and protection to the flowers,

as do fences and gates that safeguard the garden

from outside predators.

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The uniqueness and variety of the flowers create a landscape of beauty to exceed all. In the garden are found many diverse conditions that help them grow

more beautiful and strong. Their distinct circumstances and

even hardships, experienced while being nurtured, ultimately create a magnificent landscape.

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At times, though, some of the flowers in the garden compare

themselves with each other, even though each is uniquely

and tenderly loved the same by the Gardener, no matter its size,

its color, its shape, or the hardships it must grow in. He

sees their true beauty and loves them no differently.

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Some of the flowers in the garden are hardy, while others

are very fragile and require tender care, but the Master

Gardener helps them to see that their own unique gifts of beauty

and strength are of great worth.

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The Master Gardener loves to come across a field of wild

flowers. What joy they bring! Their greatest desire is to bring

happiness to all they come in contact with. Though it may be difficult to find order among

some wild flowers, the Gardener recognizes their gift of joy and contentment

with life.

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At times the flowers are found growing amidst the rocks of hardship. Even

in such difficult circumstances they can flourish and share their

great beauty.

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Often times there are flowers who feel they are insignificant or feel lonely

and not part of the garden or worth the

Gardener’s attention.

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We are often reminded that everything has a

purpose, even if it may cause discomfort or pain. Ultimately our joy is more

full because of the challenges

we have faced.

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As unique and radiant as the flowers are, their full

potential and ultimate purpose are only made

manifest when they bring joy to those who visit the garden, which will in turn help them to forget about

themselves.

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Often there are noxious (and even obnoxious) weeds, such as

“Morning Glory,” that enter without warning. If not properly

taken care of on a daily basis, they slowly and subtly entangle the flowers and ultimately choke them from all the joys of being in this beautiful garden. The

Master Gardener has a plan to rid the devastation of

“Morning Glory.”

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The Gardener helps the flowers understand that each new day is a fresh

start and that each can be renewed and still partake of His offerings, even if

they have gone for a while without

His nourishment.

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The love that the Master Gardener has for each flower and tree in his Garden surpasses all.

However, in order for Him to fulfill His ultimate design, He must have

helpers that work in His garden that act as

caretakers.

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Sisters, you are the flowers in this beautiful and spacious garden,

and the trees represent the presence and the

blessings of the priesthood.

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The priesthood can shelter us from the storms and the

entanglements of Satan if we will only utilize their blessings

and the gift the Master Gardener, our Savior Jesus Christ, offers us. He deeply

loves each one of us and knows us personally. He sees all that we are and what we will yet

become.

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All He wishes is that we come to Him daily and

receive of His nourishment and partake of His eternal blessings, which will bring

us immense joy and consolation even in the

seasons when we must grow amidst the rugged rocks of

life.

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Throughout our lives, we encounter the very subtle influences of

“Morning Glory.” Satan is working at all times to slip in thoughts and

influences that may cause poor judgments. This can prevent us from coming to the Lord to be

nurtured by Him. The greatest gift of all, the Atonement of Jesus

Christ, can uproot and cast out all sources of “Morning Glory” in our lives. It can become our source of comfort from the ailments of life and bring us hope and peace in a

time of discouragement, sorrow, or sin.

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“And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should

bemade; therefore God himself

atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan

of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God,

anda merciful God also.”

— Alma 42:15

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I see all of you as the most

beautiful women in the Lord’s

garden of life . . .

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even though there may be some who are feeling a

bit wilted or malnourished, or feel they are not worth the Savior’s

love and attention.

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I can assure you that each one of you is worth the

Lord’s deepest love and attention.

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There is not one of us that He does not

understand or cannot relate with. He knows each of our joys AND our pains, sorrows,

and heartaches.

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Sisters, I have been called to be one of the Master Gardener’s

many helpers!

I can clearly see the beauty found within each of you. By aligning

our lives with Christ, partaking of the wellspring of nourishment He freely offers, and by being faithful to the covenants we have made, we will see our inner splendor

that shines brighter than any physical beauty.

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How grateful I am for the strength that surrounds the women of the church by their goodness, and

the power and the protective care of the

priesthood that each of us can utilize.

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Sisters, did you know that you too are the

Lord’s helpers?

How might each of us be an assistant or helper in the Lord’s great work?

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Perhaps by being:

A Visiting Teacher

A NeighborA FriendA Sister

A Grandmother A Daughter A Mother A Wife

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Each of you is a daughter of our Father in Heaven. Each

is a member of this wonderful sisterhood. Laurels, you are soon entering into the most glorious gathering of Relief Society sisters in history. Your preparation will help you to be more effective

helpers in this, the Lord’s most important Work of

Salvation.

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Because of the covenants we have made with our

Father in Heaven, we are blessed immensely and

also carry the privilege of living our lives to

exemplify Him.

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Our joy will be great in His eyes and our joy will be magnified as we “sup” with Him daily AND

share of this great joy with others.

How we do this is by following the Relief Society Purposes,

which are....

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“Increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen

families and homes,and seek out and help those

in need.”

— Relief Society Purposes

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“Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice,

and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.”

— D&C 25:13

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“A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment

of a million things, most of which are important. …

Sister Julie Beck’s “Priorities”

From April 2010 BYU Women’s Conference —

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… A good woman must constantly resistalluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her

responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But

with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life

confidently. The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be

acquired in this life.”

Sister Julie Beck’s “Priorities”

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As Sister Beck speaks of the importance of prioritizing

our lives, I believe this is the very thing that allows finding the joy the Master Gardener,

our Savior Jesus Christ, speaks of. Sister Beck often speaks of prioritizing with

these three categories.

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“Essential”

Daily Scripture StudyDaily Prayer

Temple AttendanceSacrament Meeting Attendance

In the “Essential” category are those things that help us to obtain Eternal

Life. Some of these are:

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“Necessary”

Temple and Family HistorySharing the Gospel

Church ServiceCompassionate ServiceCooking, Cleaning, etc.

In the “Necessary” category are those things that help us to become self-reliant

and serve our family and the Lord, such as:

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“Nice to Do”

VacationsGoing out to lunch

Reading a novelCraftsEtc.

In the “Nice to Do” category, are things that will not save us but are enjoyable,

and more so when the other two categories are accomplished first. Such as:

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It is critical that we prioritize, as Sister Beck has counseled us. As we do, our joy will be more replenished and full, and we will also be more effective as helpers in

the Lord’s Garden.

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“Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and

stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto

the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the

purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification

cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”

— Helaman 3:35

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In President Thomas S. Monson’s closing remarks at the April 2011 General Conference,

he states:

“We face many challenges in the world today, but I assure you that our Heavenly Father is

mindful of us. He loves each of us and will bless us as we seek

Him through prayer and strive to keep His commandments.”

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“But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to

grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting

life.”

— Alma 32:41

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________ Peter Lassig story ________

I would like to briefly tell you of a man that I spoke with last year. His name is Peter Lassig. Bro. Lassig was at one time the gardener for President Kimball. Years later he was asked to be the gardener for the grounds at Adam-ondi-Ahman to beautify those surroundings.

He was also assigned to help beautify the Salt Lake City temple grounds and oversaw the creation of the gardens on the top of the

Conference Center. How might the Church’s efforts to beautify and take care of sacred

grounds relate to us? Sisters, if the church is beginning the process of preparing these

sacred grounds for the Lord, should we not be more anxiously engaged in such a righteous

cause as putting our lives and the lives of our families in order, to become spiritually and physically prepared for the time when the

Lord comes again?

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Where can we find our garden as a refuge?

We will find our refuge as we serve in the temple frequently,

partake daily of the scriptures, and pray fervently to a loving Father in Heaven, and as we faithfully serve our

family and God in His Kingdom.

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As we contemplate the singularity and beauty of each

individual sister in this stake, we come to appreciate how the Lord is specifically concerned with and

devoted to the uniqueness that lies within each of us and our

capabilities and purpose in this great work of salvation.

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We are His ministering angels here on earth to help strengthen the

eternal bonds we are building. As sisters, we should love, honor and cherish one another, as we unite with the sacred splendor of the

priesthood and receive the sanctifying power of the atonement

in our daily lives. We are all His helpers in this immense and

wonderful work in the church. We are beautiful and tender flowers, Daughters of God, who, with His supply of nourishment, will find

ourselves -

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“Becoming Joyful Covenant Women of Christ.”

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This talk was given on January 28th, 2012, by Renée W.

Packer