Women’s Conference for the East and West Stakes

Women’s Conference for the East and West Stakes was held on Saturday, January 31 with Elder Emerson Carnavale and his wife, Jannae as the guest speakers. The theme of the conference was “And see that ye have Faith, Hope and Charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.” Alma 7:24

A service project was also part of the conference with the Relief Society Sisters donating canned and boxed foods that were donated to the local food bank. Two pick-up truck loads of food were gathered thanks to your generosity. A choir of Young Women and Sisters sang a stirring rendition of “Just Pray,” calling us to pray when we have questions and are seeking guidance with the words, “He is there when you’re searching for the answers, He is the one who know the way; Share your hopes and dreams – Just Pray.”

Elder Carnavale invited the congregation of women, 1. “to think of things not heard but let the Sprit whisper more thoughts and 2. Listen for things you can work on to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ. “

Sister Jannae Carnavale said, in speaking about the new Young Women theme of Walk with Me, she told the story of her teenage daughter and four other friends who did a 5K. One of the young men was a runner who trained while the others had not. He finished the race but then returned to walk with the others and encourage them as they ran/walked/jogged to the finish line. Comparing this to the scriptures, she said, “Christ already walked past the finish line and taught by example how to keep going to the finish line.”

She continued, “Joyfully gather together and search for and minister to the one not forgetting the ninety and nine. Remember the Savior’s words to “Love One Another as I have loved you.”

She recounted the story of leaving a hospital after visiting a friend and she and her daughter seeing a lady standing alone and crying, she passed by but her sixteen-year-old daughter stopped, put her arms around the crying lady, comforted her and let her know she was loved. “Christ saw each as individuals,” said Sr. Carnavale.

She told another story of Carol and Brad who shared the gospel with their foreign visitors and how excited these visitors were to go to church – “a family-oriented church,” the visitors said. “They were bold to share the gospel and invite them to go to church and then Christ takes care of the rest,” Sr. Carnavale said.

Elder Carnavale who is a native of Brazil told of all the women who have been a positive influence in his life and how grateful he is for his mother, grandmother and aunt who taught him about Jeus Christ. “It is woven in all of us who we are – disciples of Jesus Christ.

Don‘t discount your ability and you light – you can make a different. You come with that light of Christ,” he said.

“Faith is to act,” he stated. “Are you paralyzed to act?” he asked. He compared it to losing your car in a parking garage and not getting a proper signal. “Just as you can’t find your car until you move and get a clear signal, God can’t help you unless you move.” He compared it to the story of Matthew 14:19 and feeding the 5,000. Christ using the five loaves and two fishes blessed this small amount, but the disciples had to take action and move through the crowd with the baskets of food.”

In comparing the story of Peter when he was called as an apostle and asked to throw the net on the right side of the boat Elder Carnavale said, “We have often prayed and toiled as Peter and then nothing happens, but we are asked to pray again. And Peter inserted the phrase “I’ve thrown the net on the right side too!” Then do it again was the Savior’s admonition.

We have been given a compact of faith in 1 Corinthians 10:13 it states, “God is faithful and will make a way for you.”

In speaking of Hope, Elder Carnavale told of the widow’s might and how it applies to our sacrifices. “The story is not about tithing and how small a mite is – 2 mites make a farthing. The story is that Christ knows your desires and contributions. It is not a comparison to someone else’s works or acts.”

He explained the early organization of the Relief Society was to organize the women to help make clothes for those men donating their time to the building of the Nauvoo Temple. On March 17, 1842, the women met at the home of Sr. Vilate Kimball and made a plan to do what they could to aid in the construction of the temple by providing clothing for the workers. They looked forward to having a temple – a sacred place of worship and learning.

“We can make our home like a temple - to make it an extension of the temple. Homes can be chaotic and hectic at times - therefore just control things you can control. Learn to feel the Spirit,” Elder Carnavale said. “Satan tries to distract us from the work of our families - to lose sight of what is important. The love that you share with your family can heal and advance the work of salvation in our homes,” he stated. He quoted Moses 1:39 This is my work and glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

He told the story of a lab experiment of four rabbits who were each fed a diet of high trans- saturated fat. “What was the result?” he asked. Continuing he stated, “Three of the rabbits had high blood pressure and were not expected to live, but ‘Billy’ was healthy although fed the same diet.” He said the difference was that ‘Billy’ was scared and the lab worker would cuddle him in her lap when he ran out of cage. The other bunnies were filled with cortisol and sacred to run out into the arms of the lab technician.

“Simply love the one. We all can be cured with love,” he stated.

He concluded with a summary of his three points: 1. Act to have Faith, 2. He knows you 3. Don’t lose sight of what’s important.

Allie Shaner, the YSA Relief Society Pres. told of her experiences of charity when she was on a mission. They had loved and served even when they as missionaries had been scared and far from home.

Isela Zarate, Spanish Branch Relief Society Pres. She quoted D&C 12:8-9 that speaks of being full of love, having Faith, Hope and Charity. Sr. Zarate said, “You may lose your footing but accept the light of love from your sisters. No matter how small the acts of kindness, they have an impact on the lives of others. Give love freely and don’t hide away. Accept love from others. She said that her family was blessed by the service of others who brought hope and faith. She said, “Be at the right place to say things. Charity need not be something big.”

The closing hymn, ‘Go Forth with Faith’ reminded us to “Tell the World of Jesus Christ, the Lord, to tell the world the joy of families, the boundless joy of serving, and to do your best with no thought of reward.”

From Left to Right

From the west stake

Christy Perkins, Nova Mastrogiovanni, Debra Hess, Kathy Abbott,

From the east stake

Jamie Spilker, Sara Hatala, LaNae Griffiths