If you got the September 2010 issue of the Ensign, or Liahona, you’ve probably seen the article about Relief Society:  Using Relief Society Meetings to Teach and Inspire. 

This article gives several ideas for planning your Relief Society meetings. Realize that the General Board has made significant changes and that it is not the same program that it was a year or so ago.

The article shows the value of talking things over with your Bishop. Planning under his arm and authority.  Focusing on the three purposes Sis. Beck is emphasizing: Faith, Family, Service.

I’ve heard this laughed off before, but I think it’s significant that the Board takes the time to spell out how to announce additional meetings “called whatever they are.” I think they are trying to tell us to stop coming up with catchy, cutsie names. Just keep things simple and meaningful. The effort shouldn’t be in the title, the invitation, or the advertising. The effort should be in the substance of the meeting itself.

May I just add my two cents? The sooner we realize, accept, and incorporate the changes, the sooner we will see much needed, increased spirituality, unity, and organization in our wards.

I had another thought while I was brushing my teeth this morning. Whatever happened to the Good News Minute? Some of you may still be having it, even though it was suggested we stop when it became more of a brag-fest, taking too much time during opening exercises.

Taking too much time is certainly a real concern, and should be guarded, however, this thought occurred to me. It could be fun to use that time to share Visiting Teaching moments, or successful Family Home Evenings, or experiences that will build motivation, and unity, through shared successes.

Another thought is our lost music time. Too many of us have taken its demise too literally. Music brings the spirit faster than anything else. Do NOT dismiss it so readily. Please find creative ways to fit musical numbers and appreciation, occasionally, back into your meetings.

Doggone it! There just isn’t enough time to waste time anymore! Well, maybe that’s where additional Relief Society meetings can come in.

Give the welcome, opening hymn, and prayer 10 minutes;  music 10 minutes;  the Good News Minute 10 minutes. (Your announcements would absolutely have to be in a notebook passed around the room because there just isn’t enough time to get to them.)  Wow, then you only have 20 minutes left for the lesson. But if your teacher just makes 1-2 significant points from the lesson, you can have a meeting during the week to continue the discussion. Or maybe you want to go online and discuss things back and forth there. Or you could encourage Visiting teachers to continue the discussion in their visits. Throw out tradition and find ways to feed your sisters with the spirit of the Lord.

Or, you could save your Good News Minute and announcements for the first Sunday of the month, when the Presidency teaches. (Take a look at my other posts that suggest Presidencies don’t actually teach a lesson, they use the time for planning, sharing, and maybe taking care of these other things we seem to not have time for.)

Yes, it really looks like we need to throw out tradition and try something new that will fulfill our needs better, and allow the time we share to be significant and meaningful. The times, they are a changin’, and Sisters…we need to allow the Lord to move us forward.