Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day

Today's lesson was given by Jana Harris. Jana survived a parasailing accident during the past week and got a concussion and some nasty bruises and scrapes--but she still did a fabulous job teaching. Thank you, Jana! (And if any of you are wondering, no, those are not tattoos on her arms.)

The lesson was #16 in the George Albert Smith manual, "Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day."

When he was a child and was invited to play ball with his friends on Sunday, George Albert Smith's mother didn't forbid him from going. Instead, she suggested that he'd be happier if he kept the Sabbath day holy. Jana commented on the wisdom of President Smith's mother: she didn't focus on his actions; instead she tried to change his heart.

Jana said there were two lessons here:

• True worship cannot be forced.
• You will be happier if you keep the Sabbath day holy. (Jana noted that you may be happy doing the "wrong" things on the Sabbath. Sometimes those things are fun, relaxing... whatever. But you'll be happier if you do what you should be doing.)

Marilyn said that we are always confronted with choices, and many of those choices are good things. The challenge is to choose the best things. Terri commented that it's important that we obey the spirit of the law, not just the letter of the law.

We should realize that keeping the Sabbath is a blessing, not a burden. Karen said then when her children were younger, she was something of a "church Nazi." She conveyed the idea that "we're going to go to church and feel the spirit if it kills us." And when she got to church, often her kids were upset or crying--and now they are older and have bad memories of church and some of them don't go. She wishes she'd conveyed that she wanted to go to church because she loves her Heavenly Father. It's not what it looks like but what it feels like that's important.

In one way, you can consider the Sabbath a day of sacrifice. What are you sacrificing each Sunday? How might you be blessed by those sacrifices?

The Sabbath is a day to rest from our labors, not from the Lord's labors.

Sometimes people have employment that requires them to work on Sundays, but that doesn't mean their hearts are necessarily in the wrong place. 

Melinda told of when her husband, who is a doctor, was doing his residency. He had 30-hour shifts, and sometimes they ended right before church. He was so tired, but he went to church. He didn't want their children to see him at home when they came home from church. He wanted them to know that attending church was important to him.

Lacey worked with a man who had a 7-days-on, 7-days-off schedule, which meant that he could only attend church every other week. However, on the Sundays when he was at work, he wore a white shirt and tie in the lab. It was a visual reminder that he remembered what day it was. She noticed that on Sundays he also listened to music like Sounds of the Sabbath.

President Smith said, "In this marvelous age when people can sit comfortably at home and hear the music of the world and listen to public addresses, and sermons, they will remain at their own fireside and perhaps feel that they are receiving all that they could receive were they to go to the place appointed for religious services.

The Latter-day Saints need not be deceive"d in this matter. It is not only the word that we hear that is profitable, but it is the influence that pervades our houses of worship that comes from our Heavenly Father that is essential. We may have  radio receiving set in our home, but we will not benefit by it spiritually as much as if we go to the house of the Lord upon his holy day, where we are permitted to partake of the sacrament and where we pray and invoke the blessings of our Heavenly Father and receive [a] witness of the truth calculated to save mankind." [p. 172]

Jana volunteered as a driver for athletes in the 2002 Olympics. She missed church 3 weeks out of 4, and though she tried to be reverent on Sundays and worship in her own way, she said it didn't feel like Sunday. She really felt like something important was missing from her life. 

Becky is a flight attendant and near the bottom of the seniority list, so she doesn't get to choose her work schedule and most often works on Sundays. She commented that she misses serving in callings and making friendships with the sisters in the ward.

At church, we have an opportunity to acknowledge our faults and bear testimony. Acknowledging faults doesn't mean we're airing our dirty laundry for the ward; rather, it means we're humble. Marilyn said she had a great insight that she should ask Heavenly Father what she should be repenting of. She did it, and He let her know, so she could improve. Leslie reminded us that President Monson said if we measure behavior, it gets better--so Sunday is a good time to think about how we are doing in specific areas and then work on improving. Sue said that when she comes to church, her heart is touched. The spirit shows her new ways of seeing things. Jana said when we come to church, we shouldn't be judgmental; instead, as we get to know people better, we know better how to support each other.

Taking the sacrament should be our main focus on the Sabbath. Just as food renews our physical strength, the sacrament renews us spiritually.

Ronda and Lacey spoke of people who are physically unable to take the sacrament. They may visualize taking the sacrament or just touch it to their lips. Those people still receive the blessings of partaking of the sacrament.

We spoke of taking the sacrament worthily. Annette said we should be humble as we take the sacrament. If our mind is wandering during the sacrament, that may be a sign that we're following our own agenda instead of focusing on renewing our covenants. Julie said (with mothers of young children in mind) that it's OK if you're barely making it through--Heavenly Father knows your heart.

Jana concluded by saying that this lesson isn't meant to make us feel bad, guilty, or unworthy. Rather, it's to remind us that Heavenly Father wants to bless us--and offering up our sacraments on the Sabbath is an important part of how we earn those blessings.

Obtaining Personal Revelation & Inspiration

"When we qualify ourselves by our worthiness, when we strive with faith nothing wavering to fulfill the duties appointed to us, when we seek the inspiration of the Almighty in the performance of our responsibilities, we can achieve the miraculous." 

--Thomas S. Monson

Today Kerry Hardy gave our Relief Society lesson. It was based on Elder Richard G. Scott's April 2012 General Conference address, "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration in Your Personal Life."

All those of us who were baptized were afterward confirmed with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Because we have that gift, we are entitled to personal revelation. Our belief in continuous revelation is something that distinguishes us from members of other churches.

In 1916, President Joseph F. Smith spoke of our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings, who may be our ancestors who have preceded us to the spirit world. They car about us and can help guide us.

Betsy attended her brother's funeral this past week, and her brother's bishop spoke. Her brother's bishop spoke to the brother's children--several of whom have strayed from the gospel--and said that he had a message from their father, which was that they need to get to a place in their lives where they can feel their father's influence. In this way, Betsy's brother has an opportunity to be an angel to his children, helping them from beyond the veil.

Angela's mom, who was visiting our ward today, said that at one time she was expecting a visit from her niece, and she just didn't feel ready. The Holy Ghost prompted her to call her daughter. The daughter dropped everything and came to help, and everything worked out well.

Amara said sometimes she wonders whether she's receiving a prompting about her children or if she's just worried because she's a mom. [Someone said that Elder Bednar addressed this concern, saying something like, "If you're worried whether it's a worry or a prompting, stop worrying." I search on lds.org and couldn't find this quote, so I must have it wrong. If you know the source of the quote, feel free to share and I'll post it.] However, we did talk about how to recognize revelation. Elder Scott said that revelation is accompanied by peace in your heart and a quiet, warm feeling.

Kerry reminded us that how we feel revelation is an individual experience, and it's not the same for everyone or in every instance. When one of her sons was preparing for a mission, Sister Hardy was prompted to talk with him and help strengthen his testimony. It seemed like he was doing fine and didn't need help--and he said as much when she approached him. But later he called her, and they had a long discussion that really helped him. He still treasures that discussion--and so does Kerry.

Julie said she's noticed that Heavenly Father is patient and loving, and He knows that sometimes we don't "get it" the first time. He gives us a second or third chance if our hearts are in the right place and we are honestly trying to do what's right.

Sister Hardy's lesson handout outlined several practical principles that enhance revelation and also things that distract us from receiving revelation.

It is important that we listen for revelation and then act on it. President Monson said, "We watch. We wait. We listen for the still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey. Promptings of the Spirit are not to be postponed."

When you've received revelation, you should take time to write it down, so it doesn't fade away. As a family home evening activity, you could encourage family members to write down an experience they've had with the Holy Ghost. Terri added that it's also smart to write down the outcome of what happened when you followed (or didn't follow) a prompting, so you can see patterns and learn from them.

Advancing the Work of the Lord

Today Julie Wilkinson taught our lesson, which was #16, "Advancing the Work of the Lord." Julie began her lesson with this reminder from Elder Gene R. Cook of the Seventy, who counseled that the spirit is the true teacher. "The Lord is the One who knows the needs of those being taught." [more on that here] Julie encouraged us to ask:

What am I supposed to learn?

What am I supposed to do?

These are good questions for every lesson.

Julie asked why we think the apostles are so happy, even though they must feel the weight of their responsibilities.

• They love what they're doing.
• They are doing the Lord's work.
• They know they have God's promise that they will not fail.

President George Albert Smith was an apostle during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Yet he remained positive and said, "I see in the events of today the hand-dealing of an all-wise Father to prepare the way for the spread of the gospel that he has restored to the earth in our day."

In 1946, President Smith prophesied that "the servants of the Lord will be able to deliver messages to isolated groups who are so far away they cannot be reached" and that "the gospel... will be heard in all parts of the world." We can see that this prophecy has been fulfilled since then with advances in television, airplanes, computers, the Internet, and even political changes in countries like Russia and Germany.

Betsy Jones commented that on her recent trip to Israel Kelly Ogden taught about signs of the times and that, yes, there is a lot that still needs to happen before the gospel reaches the whole world, but those changes can happen quickly.

Sue Spencer's sister referred to a story from the book On Wings of Faith, in which then-Elder Ezra Taft Benson and his traveling companion saw miracles occur in post-war Europe as they traveled on assignment (given by none other than President George Albert Smith, I learned). They were able to go places that the wise people of the world said would be impossible, but it wasn't impossible for them because they were on the Lord's errand.

President Smith understood that the work of the Church is successful because it is the Lord's work, and he taught the Saints that the opportunity to participate in that work is a blessing the Lord offers each member of His Church. [p. 159]

President Smith encouraged the Saints to be anxiously engaged in doing good. [See Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-27.] He reminded us that Heavenly Father expects us to magnify whatever callings we have, but he also said that it doesn't matter what calling we have--or if we have one at all. "Remember that in the ranks and throughout the Church there is ample opportunity for every man and for every woman to do something for the blessing of their fellows and for the advancement of the work of the Lord."

President Monson said in this month's Ensign that "the mantle of membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility."

How can we advance the work?

• Visiting teaching
• Don't need a calling to serve
• Sue's sister said once she had been diagnosed with cancer and was having a hard time and she wished that she had some hot bread and cold milk, her comfort foods. All of a sudden, a lady from her ward showed up at her door with a loaf of bread fresh out of the oven.
• Jana commented that we should be good neighbors by being kind and friendly, including those who are members of other faiths.
• Annette said we should be diligent, not casual, about keeping our covenants.
• Jolie said she's learned by studying the Book of Mormon and the counsel of prophets, that being willing to serve recently led to an "aha moment" for her.
• Julie said we need to follow the counsel, test it.
• Callings stretch us.
• Our influence at home goes out into the world.
• One older couple prays every day, "Who can we help today?" and they don't get up from their prayer until one or the other of them feels a prompting about something they can do. These are often small things.
• Give up the "one foot in Babylon." ~Elder Maxwell

Terri said that sometimes we can get overwhelmed with all we feel we should be doing. We need to remember that the Lord will guide you. If you have responsibilities, you will also have an empowering mantle to help you fulfill those responsibilities.

If your heart is in the right place, the Lord knows.

Make sure you have quiet time. Turn off distractions, so you can feel the spirit. "We may be puny and weak of ourselves, but if we will be virtuous and pure in our lives, if we will do what we know to be right, men and women will be raised to continue the work of the Lord, until our Father's work will have been done in the way that He desires." [See p. 165.]

Julie concluded the lesson by reminding us we have every reason to have confidence in God's promises. She prays for Heavenly Father to help her do the things she promised to do when she came to Earth, and she knows that He does help her--as he will help each of us as we help in advancing the work of the Lord.

Mountains to Climb

Sue Spencer taught today's Relief Society lesson. It was based on President Henry B. Eyring's April General Conference address, "Mountains to Climb." President Eyring said that once, after hearing President Kimball talk about praying for "mountains to climb," President Eyring was inspired to pray for a test to prove his courage. Shortly thereafter, he faced a big challenge. From that experience, he learned two lessons: 1) God hears and answers prayers; 2) Great blessings can come from adversity.

Sue asked sisters in the ward what some of their "mountains" have been:

• Husband lost business & they had to move to another state and start over like teenagers.
• Had cancer.
• Have wayward children.
• Husband had an operation on his aorta & got an infection.

Some other challenges we may face are gossip, divorce, death of loves ones, financial woes, health trouble... There are potential troubles too innumerable to list.

Doctrine & Covenants 122:5-9, given to the prophet Joseph Smith while he was a prisoner in Liberty Jail, provides perspective and teaches us that the trials we face in this life can be for our own good. 2 Nephi 2:2 also teaches us that our afflictions can be consecrated for our own gain. 

President Eyring taught that to prepare for the trials we will face, we need to build a strong foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We build that foundation through humility, patience, and personal integrity.

Sue had us all hold a hand right in front of our faces. Of course, all we could see was the hand. Then we moved the hand back, and we could see the whole room. Our troubles are like that. If we hold them too close, we can't see the blessings in our lives. We need to work to learn to hold them further from us--and then appreciate what we are learning, however difficult it is. When we face trouble, we should ask, "What is God trying to teach me with this experience?"

Because we all have struggles, it's important to help others. Sue shared the parable of the blossoming trees, which reminds us that we can be there to love others and help them when times are tough.

Many of us have been served by others:

• Joanie had someone who sent the milkman to her house for a couple weeks when she was going through a financial bump.
• Sue had someone "shock" her green pool and make it swimmable again.
• Paula had several sisters put up friends who were in town for a conference. One friend stayed at Sister DeBry's house for 3 months!
• Jana's stake president took down her Christmas lights when she was diagnosed with cancer and had 4 surgeries in a row.
• The Young Women in Lacey's ward watched her toddler who needed constant supervision, so she could clean her house and do other household chores.
• A friend of Julie's sat with Jon once upon a time when Jon was younger, so Julie could take a nice, long shower for once.

Sometimes you need to find a little corner of the world where you can have fun, control, peace, or order--just so you can make it through the rough spots. You might find solace in yoga, chocolate, the temple, or a greenhouse.

Sue closed the lesson by playing the song, "Everywhere I Go." The composer has generously provided two free MP3 downloads of this song. (Sue's handout with lyrics)

You will conquer your mountains, sisters!

Personality Plus

We had a great Relief Society night meeting last night. Sue Spencer taught a "Personality Plus" class. It was so informative and fun.

Have you heard of yellow, blue, red, and white personality types and wondered what that meant? Have you wanted to complete a personality profile and see what it all means for you? You could have learned and done that last night, but if you couldn't join us, it's not too late. We have the documents online, and we'll tell you how to use them. A lot of ladies at the meeting commented that it would be fun to do these profiles with their husbands or as a family home evening activity or with other friends who weren't there last night.

Here's what to do. You can download all the documents and print them, and then follow these instructions with the printed pages if you don't want to be tied to your computer during the whole exercise. You will need printed copies of the first two documents, but you could get by with online information for the others.

1. Download the Personality Profile, and complete it according to the instructions at the top of the page.
2. Download the Personality Scoring Sheet, and complete it according to the instructions. This page will help you determine your personality type(s).
3. Download the strengths and weaknesses documents to see how these personality types tend to surface.
4. Download the building our best selves document for some handy tips on how to make the most of your own personality--building on your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses.

Sue had some great summary documents that she displayed at the end of the discussion. I jotted the information down on the weaknesses document, which may not have been the handiest place. You'll see it on the scanned document if you downloaded it, but here it is in a prettier format:

Yellow Personalities

Main goal: 

   Have fun

Emotional needs:

   Attention

   Affection

   Approval

   Fun

Control others by: 

   Charm

Red Personalities

Main goal:

   Control

Emotional needs:

   Loyalty

   Sense of control

   Appreciation

   Credit for work

Control others by:

   Threat of anger

Blue Personalities

Main goal:

   Order, Perfection

Emotional needs:

   Sensitivity

   Support

   Space

   Silence

Control others by:

   Threat of moods

White Personalities

Main goal:

   Peace

Emotional needs:

   Feeling of worth

   Lack of stress

   Respect

Control others by:

   Procrastination

People aren't all one type of personality. We're all some kind of mixture. Personality-type information can be helpful as we try to be our best selves, get along with people, and figure out what makes people tick.