Article 1: Fountain of Living Waters by Melva Cackler
Article 2: Mother's Day—a Time to Offer Comfort and Support by Melva Cackler
Mother's Day—a Time to Offer Comfort and Support
Melva Cackler
In the Restoration churches that I have attended over the years, on Sunday mornings before classes begin, there is a short period of time that is called "early morning worship". In May 2018 I was asked to present this worship for the second Sunday of that month—Mother's Day! Because of some of my own past experiences—and also because of some very sad circumstances surrounding others whom I knew of over the previous two months—this was a difficult assignment for me, but I decided to accept it. The following article is based on what I shared that morning, but I have adapted and expanded it for presenting at this time.
Numerous people around the world will soon be honoring their mothers during the celebration of Mother's Day on or near May 9. On that day, many churches focus on the mothers in their congregations and, in my experience, the sermon is also usually centered around this special day. At some point during or after the service, a flower is given to each one of the mothers. Some churches give a flower to all of the women and girls. But, most often, the focus is on the mothers. This is intended to be a very happy time in the celebration and appreciation of motherhood.
It is wonderful to have a day set aside that offers a special opportunity to give honor and recognition to mothers! Their love for their children can be expressed through discipline and through hugs and kisses, but it can also be expressed through anguished prayers in the middle of the night. Their love is often shown by the sacrifices they make on behalf of their children and their families. However, Mother's Day can be a very difficult time for many women, and also for families. I encourage you to remember in your prayers—and with small acts of kindness—those women and families you know who, for various reasons, are not able to experience the "happy" part of this special day.
I, personally, struggled with Mother's Day after my own mother was released from her suffering due to illness back in 1987. It took a number of years for me to truly move beyond my grief. The hardest part was that I was half-way around the world from her and the support of my childhood family. It was difficult to find closure—and, yes, for a number of years I stayed home from church on the second Sunday in May.
There are many circumstances that can make this special day so very difficult for women, men, and children. In 2018, during the two months prior to my Mother's Day presentation at church, I knew of two young mothers who were released from their illnesses and suffering, and taken home to the Lord. The children of one of the mothers were in their early teens; the other mother's children were just babies. It was comforting to know that their husbands and their children had support from family and friends; however, it is heartbreaking that in some countries around the world, children in these kinds of situations become orphans and are often left to fend for themselves.
I want to give recognition to the many who compassionately respond to the desperate needs of orphaned children. Amongst the Kenyan saints there are a number of families who, with limited resources, have taken these vulnerable children into their homes. The saints in Brazil have a program through which they assist local orphans and others in need, including refugees. Church members in other countries and North America also contribute to and sponsor the care of orphaned children, the poor, and others in need. And some families work through all the bureaucracy and expense to adopt children from overseas. Even though the needs and cries for help are overwhelming, our compassionate response does make a difference.
There are also many mothers and families grieving the loss of their children, from tiny babies through to adulthood. On Mother's Day, and every day, they are in need of our understanding and compassion. Very recently (in March 2021) one of our own sisters lost her oldest adult son, and it is just three years earlier that her mother also went to be with the Lord. Some of the pain may ease over time, but the loss is always present. There are other difficult circumstances that can be easily overlooked: mothers who lose their babies through miscarriage; mothers who have been pressured into terminating the lives of their unborn babies, and also those who may have chosen a termination and later regretted that decision. All of these mothers need comfort and understanding through compassionate ministry.
One of my friends represents a group of mothers who have had their children removed from their care and have then been denied contact with those children. Too many families have missing children who have been enticed away or kidnapped. Over two million people are trapped in unacceptable conditions in refugee camps, and according to some reports, the majority of these people are women and children. Many millions of families live in extreme poverty without adequate shelter and food, or are homeless. Too many of the world's families experience hopelessness, so let's remember these families in prayer and, where possible, reach out to them.
A group of people that I also invite you to remember are the Kinship Carers. This group consists of members of the extended family, most often grandparents, who become parents to their grandchildren (and some of these children can have special needs). Sometimes, it involves more distantly related family members who care for children who need a more stable family environment. Many Kinship Carer families are struggling financially and are often below the poverty level. Women and men also become foster parents, legally or informally, to children in need.
I have another friend who represents a group of women we may not consider at all on Mother's Day: women who are not mothers. For various reasons beyond her control, my friend did not have the opportunity at the right time to become a mother. However, throughout her adult life she has given mothering ministry in various ways and, especially, as a Sunday School teacher; but she finds herself feeling lonely and forgotten during the celebration of Mother's Day—especially at church! I know a number of women, and sisters in Christ, who are in similar situations. They are all very caring and loving towards the children in their lives; they are wonderful mothering women who also need our recognition and support.
I know that I haven't covered all of the circumstances that can cause women and families to struggle with various emotions prior to and during the celebration of Mother's Day. But we do know that the love, comfort, and peace of the Lord Jesus are always there for us. However, He also desires for His people to be compassionate toward others—to be His Voice, His arms, His comfort. Men and women, and families, are all called to share the love of Jesus Christ with others. But women are uniquely created by God to fulfill this role of mothering, and it begins to be exhibited in girls from a very early age.
Perhaps, instead of Mother's Day, we could call this special day "Mothering Day", allowing it to be inclusive rather than exclusive—and thus incorporating the beautiful feminine (mothering) gifts and attributes with which women, including girls, are endowed by our all-loving Creator. My prayer is that all women, from the young to the elderly, will feel recognized, appreciated, and loved not only on "Mothering Day", but every day.
It is so very important for our families to be united in support of each other because "Zion begins in our own house" (A3N 10:5*).
"If the guidelines of our home are the teachings of Jesus Christ, then we will live in homes where joy reigns, whose branches of our posterity will be firmly rooted in the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance; these being the feelings that must fill our earthly abode, as being a heavenly refuge. And, behold, joy is one of its fruits and will overflow through the walls in the homes of Zion.
"The unity that is required of us as disciples of Christ has no structure if its foundations are not firmly established among the families of Zion. The more united we are to the members of our families, the greater will be the strength of the structures of our unity as God's people" (A3N 10:7-8*).
*Acts of the Three Nephites, The Sealed Book
Fountain of Living Waters
Melva Cackler
Welcome to the Fountain of Living Waters webpage! Today, March 24, 2021 is very special. Not only are we launching our webpage, but it is close to the day, in 1842, when the church's first Female Relief Society of the City of Nauvoo, Illinois, USA was officially organized. Now, 179 years later, the Fountain of Living Waters is taking its first step toward becoming organized. (Please note that we will not be completely organized and active until after the leadership team is in place.)
As an organization, the Fountain of Living Waters was first referenced in a revelation in 2019. Because all of us have our agency, the original calling to another person was declined, but the Lord God is never taken by surprise; He always has the perfect plan—which was set in place from before the foundation of the world.
In November 2019 at the First World Conference in Brazil, Melva Cackler, an Australian citizen living in the USA was called to be the president of this international organization. During the same service Simone Rodrigues was called to be the president in Brazil. In this first post Melva shares some events and experiences related to her call, and also a few of her thoughts about this new organization.
Attending the November 2019 World Conference was the second time I had been able to visit Brazil. However, I had not learned any of the Portuguese language. So, on November 17, when I was receiving the prayer of confirmation and blessing by Brother Maurício, I wasn't at all aware of the designation that had been placed upon me—until after the service ended.
With a great deal of excitement, I was advised to sit down so that this news could be explained to me. The only words I remembered were: "You are chosen in the preexistence and called to preside over the society of women called the Fountain of Living Waters." While I was still trying to grasp the significance of these words, I understood why my English-speaking sister and my bilingual brother in the Faith thought I needed to be sitting down!
I had no prior knowledge of this call, but I could certainly recognize the hand of God guiding, protecting, and preparing me for this particular time. It was several weeks later before I had a written copy of the blessing in English; but while I was still in Brazil, as Brother Maurício was giving counsel to me, he said that this calling should not feel overwhelming—because there would be sufficient time to prepare for it. How very true that was!
Over the following months the world-wide spread of "COVID-19" changed a lot of things, including my planned trip to Brazil for the April conference. My husband Robert and I were in Australia, with flights back to Dallas, Texas scheduled for April 1, 2020. From Dallas, I was to travel to Brazil, and Robert would return to Kansas City. But, one by one, all of our attempts to fly were cancelled (with us eventually having a small window of opportunity to fly back to the USA in late May). So, on Sunday, April 5, beginning at 3 am, while still in Australia, we "attended" and participated in the modified, but very special, virtual Project Zion Second World Conference!
At that time, instead of four months, there were suddenly another eight months provided for my continued preparation, and for insight and direction from the Holy Spirit. Then, at times, plans for the proposed November 2020 conference became uncertain. However, eventually a decision was made for the conference to be held in Palhoça as originally planned. Once the invitation was received, this president-elect stepped out in faith and (along with other overseas attendees) made plans to be in Brazil for the conference which was held on November 21-22.
A day or two after my arrival in Palhoça I was excited to have the opportunity to take a tour and experience the Spirit in the beautiful new study center! It was very evident that the saints had worked tirelessly to prepare the Projeto Sião Study Center building for the conference (including following all the precautions required for the pandemic)! Then, on Saturday, as we assembled for the first day of the conference the spiritual preparation of the attendees was also very evident!
That first morning there was an inspired speech (posted on our website) which included a revelation given through the prophet, Maurício Berger. In this revelation a Davidic Servant and also One Mighty and Strong were called and appointed as counsellors to the presidency of the church to sustain President Maurício. (At the closing of the conference, there was a sustaining vote and a little later, both men experienced the ordinance of the Washing of Feet, ordination to high priest, and setting apart as counsellors thus forming the First Presidency.)
There were additional speeches including a heart-felt testimony by Sister Adelisa Berger; there was also a presentation titled "Called to be Guards". After an enjoyable lunch, that had been lovingly prepared and served by some of the women, more speeches were shared including presentations by Sister Carla Batista and Sister Rafaela Brandolini.
On Sunday morning the members participated in a Spirit-filled Sacrament Service. Afterwards, votes of support were given for some priesthood calls, and for other appointments including for the designated president for the Fountain of Living Waters. The congregation was then blessed with the witnessing of ordinations, and also the ordinance of Washing of Feet with the ordination of a high priest who was also set apart as an apostle; there were confirmations and blessings, and also the blessing and ordaining of the first president of the Fountain of Living Waters. Again, this blessing was given in Portuguese, and a written copy in English was not available for quite some time.
On Friday, November 27, during a meeting with Brother Maurício (with Brother João translating, and Sister Renee taking notes), an approximation of the words of the blessing was shared—this was my first opportunity to receive details about what had been said in the prayer the previous Sunday! Counsel was also given, and questions were answered. Counsellors and other appointments would be announced at the anticipated conference being planned for April 3-4, 2021.
Unfortunately, toward the end of February, the conference was cancelled. This cancellation was required due to a noticeable rise in corona-virus cases, and there were also travel advisories discouraging travel to Brazil. As so many people in Brazil and around the world struggle with difficult conditions, let us earnestly pray for one another.
MOST RECENT UPDATE: An online conference is being planned for April 2-3.
With the Fountain of Living Waters, and the church in its entirety, being an international organization, there are some difficulties that we face. For me, personally, the language barrier has been a challenge. Having a number of bilingual members in the church is a great blessing. There are also translation options available on our computers and phones, but it can still be difficult to correctly understand each other's communications. Of course, that should not be a surprise because even people speaking the same language can miscommunicate!
Challenges with communication can turn into trials. But any challenge, or trial, can be turned into one of our many steps in learning how to become the Zionic people the Lord is calling us to be. It is so important to remember that we are now in the time of transformation: "a transformation of the peoples among whom there will be a pure tongue; for each man and woman will invoke the name of the Lord in their hearts, so that the love is the feeling shared by both parties, whether it be between two persons or two groups, or even between different cities; for wherever your people are gathered, there will be the same feelings among brothers" and sisters (A3N 7:5).
It is my prayer that we will be patient and understanding with each other as we travel along this challenging but exciting path. The Rod of Iron is there for us to hold onto as we walk along the straight and narrow path that leads us to the beautiful fountain of living waters—to the tree of life which bears the symbols of the Love of God.
The Fountain of Living Waters is a women's ministry organization. Its purpose, and our desire, is to bring ministry to all people. This webpage is for everyone! Yes, it is definitely for women. But it is also for men. And, just as importantly, it is for families. We are all invited to work together as sisters and brothers, as families, to grow in faith—and in the understanding of the Love of God in our hearts—so that we are transformed into the people of Zion.
The Lord Jesus Christ makes intercession for us. He has prepared the way for this Zionic transformation to take place. Together, let us march toward Zion, the beautiful City of our God.
—Fountain of Living Waters, Melva A Cackler (President)
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