Coming to Ourselves

Kerry Hardy taught the Teacher for Our Times lesson today. It was based on the April 2012 General Conference talk by Elder Robert D. Hales, "Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple and Sacrifice in Service." Kerry gave us a great handout with highlights from the lesson.
We were happy to have a full room when the Young Women joined us for opening exercises, and the Laurels and their leaders stayed with us for the lesson.

Elder Hales taught that "We become converted and spiritually self-reliant as we prayerfully live our covenants—through worthily partaking of the sacrament, being worthy of a temple recommend, and sacrificing to serve others."

Kerry gave us all chocolate. (She knows how to win us over.) She talked about how good it feels to eat chocolate--how sweet it is. Then she likened chocolate to our testimonies. When you experience the sweetness, you want to partake of it again and again--and share it with others.

One of the questions we discussed was, "How do you advise someone who doesn't have a desire for truth and how do you increase this desire in yourself?" Here are some of the ideas that people presented:

• Exercise faith.
• Go through the motions until you feel it/believe it.
• Encourage people to pray for the desire.
• Tell people how the gospel has brought you joy & helped you solve problems.
• Live so you reflect what you believe. Be a good example.
• Share experiences. Establish relationships.

Enthusiasm for Sharing the Gospel

Jana Harris taught our lesson yesterday. It was lesson #12 from the George Albert Smith manual, "An Enthusiastic Desire to Share the Gospel."

A close friend of President Smith said he was "first and foremost a missionary." He would share the gospel any chance he got. He said doing so was "the ultimate kindness, for the message of Christ was the most significant gift he had to give." [p. 123-124]

President Smith described the gospel as "a panacea for all ills" and "the only thing that will bring people peace while they remain upon the earth." [p. 124]

Jana shared a story about a sister named Teresa who was called to visit teach a woman named Janice. Janice had an alcoholic husband, financial problems, and two children. Teresa wondered why she'd been called to visit Janice when they had nothing in common, but she went visiting teaching and looked for ways to serve. Later, she learned that Janice had a 90-year-old friend named Lucy, who'd been a chance acquaintance and whom Janice had befriended and served for a long time. Janice was a great friend to Lucy. Teresa gave Janice rides to Lucy's house, but Teresa learned about service from Janice's example.

"The adversary is at work, and the only power that can neutralize his influence is the gospel of Jesus Christ." [p. 125] Sister Bradshaw commented that God is preparing people to receive the gospel.

We discussed some ways that we can share the gospel:

• Pass-along cards
• Pray for missionary experiences
• Don't be afraid to share the gospel 
• Share the gospel when you travel (story of Spanish lady who shared brochures with travel companions even when she couldn't speak the same language - She'd written a note on one brochure that said, "Please read this and be happy.")
• Take advantage of natural situations to present gospel principles
• Display church artwork in your home
• Music & the Spoken Word
• Teach children gospel standards & don't underestimate their influence
• Live gospel standards
• Music (Sister Pontius talked about performing Handel's "Messiah" in Alaska and inviting people of all faiths to participate.)
• Community service

The lesson emphasized that there are several reasons why we should be enthusiastic about sharing the gospel:

•  The world needs the gospel, and we have it.
• There are many people who would embrace the truth if given an opportunity.
• We are enthusiastic about sharing the gospel because we love our neighbors.
• The Lord will hold us accountable for our efforts to share the gospel.
• If we share the gospel with people, we will have great joy with them in the celestial kingdom.

Receiving Revelation

Today Melanie Huscroft taught our lesson, which was entitled "Revelation from God to His Children" (#11 in Teaching of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith).

'What a privilege it is to live in an age of the world when we know that God lives, when we know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and our Redeemer, and when we know that the Lord continues to manifest himself to his children who have prepared themselves to receive his blessings. ... We know there is a God in heaven, that he is our Father, that he does interest himself in our affairs, and he has done that ever since the world began, when his first children were placed upon the earth." [p. 114]

Melanie used a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott's April 2012 General Conference address to remind us that inspiration is received step by step. Revelation is crisp and clear. The lesson pointed out that "We are each entitled to personal inspiration from the Holy Ghost if we obey the commandments." [p. 116]

Melanie gave an example from her own life of when she was guided once to fix the chain on her sister's bicycle, and she later learned her sister had prayed for a chance to ride her bike with her brothers and sisters. Melanie was also blessed many times with guidance as she and her husband had and adopted their children.

We need to ask for blessings of revelation and inspiration. Many will not be granted unless we pray and ask for them.

We are able to be taught from on high. D&C 43:16

"The companionship of the spirit of the Lord is an antidote for weariness, ... for fear and all those things that sometimes overtake us in life." [p. 119]

Relief Society Night Recap

 Last night we had a wonderful Relief Society night meeting.

We began with a beautiful musical number, "Daughter of a King," sung by Alison Pruitt, Angela Webb, AnnaMarie Miller, Rebecca Gubler, Sherri Nelson, and Sue Spencer, with Cindy Collyer at the piano. 

Sister Colleen Terry spoke with us. Colleen is a long-time Seminary and Institute instructor. She's also a popular EFY presenter and sought-after public speaker. After listening to her, we could understand why she's so loved. She has real talent. She currently serves as our stake Relief Society secretary, and she recently bought a lot in our ward boundaries.

Here are some highlights from Sister Terry's remarks:

• When we get to heaven after this life, we will be surprised at how well we know our Heavenly Father. (President Ezra Taft Benson, July 1975)
• We need to focus on the truth. We can't believe things into being true.
• Look objectively at a hard situation you're dealing with in your life. Remove all the emotion (hard to do!) and try to see the truth of the situation. Think about that truth. You'll walk away confident and happy.
• We come to Earth as princesses. We lose that truth (and confidence and happiness) over time as the world beats away at us.
• Knowing Who You Are & Who You've Always Been by Sheri Dew
• Alma 13 - a peek at pre-Earth personalities for current priesthood holders
• 1 Samuel 16:7 - a reminder that the Lord doesn't see us the way the world sees us
• Much of the growth in the Church in the latter days will be because people are drawn to LDS women who are distinct and different from the world in happy ways. See the direct quote by President Spencer W. Kimball on p. 95 of Daughters in My Kingdom.
• Of all our needs, I think the greatest is an increase in faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley
• Example and story of Deborah from Judges 4. Take-away idea: How could your man fail with the Lord and a woman like you at his side?
• Example and story of Hannah from 1 Samuel 1. Take-away idea: The truth is, sooner or later, things will work out. Knowing this, you can have peace now. Stories of barren women in the scriptures represent those with righteous desires that are not being fulfilled. What did Hannah do when she was sad & hurting? She fasted, prayed, went to the temple, and always sought to be the handmaid of the Lord. She trusted the priest's promise. President Hinckley (perhaps quoting Brazilian writer Fernando Sabino): "Everything will be all right in the end. If it's not all right, it's not the end."
• Satan blinds us to the truth. He is the father of all lies. Moses 4:3 Satan knows that lies will crush you.
• Focus on truth. D&C 93:23-26
• We need the Holy Ghost to know the will of the Lord. Jacob 4:13
• Colleen showed the mask she wore when she was undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. The mask was made just for her and was encoded for the machinery, so the doctors could direct the radiation at exactly the right places of her body. One day she saw a shelf with masks belonging to other people who were going through treatment for the same kind of cancer. All the masks were different. The goal for all the patients was the same: a cancer-free body. But their treatments were highly individualized. Life is like that. We all have the goal of earning eternal life, but it's dangerous to compare our "treatment" to anyone else's life and trials. We all have life experiences that are exactly tailored to us, so we can learn and grow and return to our Heavenly Father.
• When you have trials, there are two possible reasons: 1) as a consequence of your actions; or 2) Heavenly Father thinks you're ready to grow. Elder Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord"
• President Packer said during his service, he's seen shock, concern, and disappointment among the councils of the Church, but never fear. Quoted from February 29, 2008, CES evening. 
• Colleen provided audio versions of three of her favorite talks: "Applying the Atoning Blood of Christ," by Elder Neal A. Maxwell; "An High Priest of Good Things to Come," by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland ("best talk for a bad day"); and "Trust in the Lord," by Elder Richard G. Scott. These talks are not available on lds.org, but Jennifer Taylor will make you a CD if you want one, so tell her if you didn't already sign up and you'd like a CD.

Last night we also started the Family Home Evening Corner, which will be a feature at all of our future Relief Society night meetings. There will be a table set up with an idea you can use for FHE at your house. Different sisters will be asked to share their ideas. (If you have one you're eager to share, please tell Sue Spencer.) Last night's FHE idea was centered around the community clothing exchange, which will take place on Saturday, July 14, at the stake center. Each family is encouraged to teach a lesson on compassionate service. Then have each family member choose some nice clothing items which he or she has outgrown or no longer wears. Label each item of clothing with the size, written on a piece of masking tape. Hang clothes on hangers (when it makes sense to do so). Then bring them to the stake center on Friday, July 13, between 10:30 - 12:30 (or to Meg Butler's house anytime before then if that drop-off time doesn't work for you). The next day, anyone who wishes to do so is welcome to go to the stake center and choose free items from the exchange. This event is for everyone.

At the end of the evening, we had some heavenly desserts, as promised. There was cake and punch. Click here for the recipes. So many sisters had a great time visiting with one another. The evening was a great success. Thanks to everyone who helped organize it and to those who attended.

Sister Snow attends 5th Ward RS

Today in Relief Society, we were enchanted to have a visit from Sister Eliza R. Snow, complete with her era clothing and cross-stitch. She shared with us her involvement in the establishment of the Relief Society program during Joseph Smith's time and inspired us with ideas about how the Relief Society can bless our lives today.

Leslie Weber built on Sister Snow's remarks by sharing ideas from the first two chapters of the Daughters in My Kingdom book. At the end of the lesson, she played a musical number--and everyone in the room got a hug!

We are indeed fortunate to belong to such a wonderful Relief Society.