December 15^th Marquelle Morgan The Life of Joseph Smith

Marquelle began by playing a song by Kenneth Cope called “Broken.”  Click Here for a YouTube video. The lyrics focus on how our Lord asks for a broken heart, and asks us to break down our pride, and wants His image broken into our countenance.  Our Lord loves broken things, including broken us.  Including imperfect Joseph Smith.

Marquelle bore her testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that she had very tender and powerful feelings while preparing this lesson.  She encouraged everyone to read it. Click HERE to go to the lesson.

Several people shared the feelings they have had in the presence of prophets.  Ashlee Gill told of feeling a presence behind her before turning to see President Eyring standing behind her in a store.  Lorenzo snow was one of the few left in his day that knew the prophet Joseph Smith well.  He testified that her Spirit was always with him and you could feel it when you saw him or heard him speak.  Other ministers of the day would be serious and solemn. Joseph Smith could laugh and cause laughter and still maintain the power of the Spirit about him.

Lacey Denson talked about going to the Manti Temple where she grew up.  The Manti Temple still have live sessions, meaning that all the temple rolls are fulfilled by living temple workers from the community.  She tenderly expressed the feelings of seeing and hearing these simple farm folk acting in those sacred roles. These simple, broken people act with power.

Joseph Smith was young, uneducated, and just trying to figure it out.  God promised that those who would accept his message would receive a divine manifestation.  Loranzo Snow said that when he saw Joseph Smith walk out of the Johnson Farn to 150-200 people he felt a presence that he will never forget.

Marquelle played a wonderful talk by Elder Holland. Click HERE to read that talk.  She didn't begin quoting until about 1/2 way through the talk. He spoke of the terrible time Joseph Smith had in Liberty Jail.  He said those times will come for all of us, and when they do we cannot believe that God has abandoned us.  We must continue to believe, continue to pray.  When we weep the angels of heaven weep with us.  Heavenly Father said to Joseph, “My son, peace be unto they soul…” The Savior has graven us upon His hands and I promise that He will not turn His back on us now after paying such a tremendous price. We must live the gospel at all times, not just when things are going well or when it is convenient.  The real depth of our discipleship is tested when we are in distress.  It is not easy when we have been offended, or are being tried, or are in pain.

Marquelle had the opportunity to go to many of the church history sites this summer.  She testified of the powerful spirit she felt while she was there.  But she also testified that whether there or not, she knows by the Holy Ghost that the gospel is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet.  She doesn’t need to see pictures or stand in the places.  She knows and we can too if we ask.

Chapter 22 Doing Good to Others

Mari Fotheringham Chapter 22 “Doing Good to Other”

Mari began with a story from Lorenzo Snow.  A man had asked to as a drunk to Lorenzo Snow’s wagon.  During the trip the wagon axil broke on a very cold, wet, rainy road.  The man came to Lorenzo Snow and said that he makes wagons and could fix this axil.  Mari declared—this lesson is about Karma!

You know the story of David from Samuel 18—David and Goliath.  Saul was the military leader and king of the Jews.  Samuel was the prophet.  Samuel told Saul not to take any of the spoils of a conquered city, but he and his sons did.  Samuel told Saul that he had lost the confidence of the Lord and could not remain the king.  Saul became very jealous and suspicious of David and worried about him taking over the throne.  Saul’s son Jonathan was very close to David.  David loved him and protected him.  When Saul tried to kill David, Jonathan protected him.  Lorenzo snow said, “When doing good to others we do good to ourselves.”

Marilyn Bullock told the story of one of her councilors in Texas.  She visit taught a woman whose husband was not a member and this woman wanted very little to do with the church.  The councilor kept visiting and kept inviting.  One time this couple came to a Christmas fireside and Marilyn met her there.  This was 10 years ago.  About three years ago Marilyn went to a religious forum at Rice University. She noticed a familiar woman and it turns out it was her councilor’s Visiting Teachie.  Her husband had been so touch by how lovingly they had been received at the fireside so many years ago that when they moved out of the ward they both decided to make a new start.  In the intervening years her husband had joined the church, they had been sealed in the temple, and she was serving in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. You never know how your actions will change someone else’s life.

Mari talked about visiting teaching Karen Webb.  Karen was there on Sunday and ok’d the sharing of this story.  Mari and Karen began walking together in the mornings and became good friends.  Mari has a brother with addiction and mental illness.  Mari has watched the arch of sickness, addiction, recovery, and relapse closely for decades.  She had watched the heart ache of her parents and felt the loss of her brother over and over.  Her parents have gone on to be involved with so many mental health organizations to help other families.  Mari was able to recognize the symptoms and cycle she saw in Karen’s family.  Karen’s child began this cycle and Mari was able to warn her about the heart ache to come and support her.  The Lord put Mari in Karen’s path when Karen needed her, even if it was a place Mari didn’t necessarily want to be.  It is very hard to tell someone so excited that the “miracle’ had happened and their child is all better that relapse is coming.  But it did come and if Mari had not developed a real friendship with this sister that she was assigned to visit, such warnings would have destroyed their relationship.  REAL friendship is so important in visiting teaching. 

Rose Sommers shared in very emotional terms how much her home teacher has helped them because he really cares.  Brett Wilson dropped everything to rescue her from a broken car stuck in an intersection.  And when Kesha died Amy made a photo video for the funeral without being asked.  She did it out of love and if was so very comforting!

Marquelle Morgan brought up how much our children learn from watching us serve.  She said that when she was growing up they had very little money.  If they got Christmas presents at all they were wrapped in newspaper.  Her mom’s visiting teacher brought a real Barbie for each of the 4 youngest girls wrapped in real wrapping paper.  It was the first Barbie she ever had and she has never forgotten that act of service.

Jana Harris said that while she was going through cancer she tried and tried to be self-sufficient and not need anyone’s help.  Finally the Relief Society President sat her down and told her, “This is NOT about YOU. We as a ward have been given this trial so that we might serve.  It’s not about you.”  That helped Jana feel better about accepting help.

Misty Amendola said that her mother taught her to always bring Heavenly Father and the Savior into the discussion.  Teach our children to consider how their actions make Heavenly Father feel .

Lorenzo snow said that 20 years ago a man may have had nothing and been happy.  Now a man may have everything as is still not happy.  It is because we have forgotten to secure our relationships. It is all about relationships.  When we love others we find joy.

Melinda Petersen Christmas Presidency Lesson Dec 1, 2013

President Jeffery R. Holland gave a talk in which he recounted his first Christmas away from home.  For him it was on his mission and being away from home changed the meaning of Christmas for him.

What circumstances might keep us from being home for the holidays?

Mission

School

Work

war

What are the ways we are not home for the holidays?

Anger/Grudges

Sin

Sorrow/Depression

Preoccupation

Pride

Ultimately, none of us are home for the holidays because of the Fall. All of us are separated from our Heavenly parents. Christ’s Christmas gift to us is that he makes it possible for us to return home. What do we need to do to return home?

Story of the soldiers

Keep your faith. Look for the good in your situation. Do something kind for someone. Seek Christ devoid of wrapping and tinsel. You will find that despite external circumstances, Christmas—like the kingdom of God—is “within you”  Jeffery Holland

In his powerful discourse on charity, Paul makes reference to faith, hope, and charity, concluding with, “But the greatest of these is charity.” 1

“I have always loved your Relief Society motto: “Charity never faileth.” 8What is charity? The prophet Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.” 9 In his farewell message to the Lamanites, Moroni declared, “Except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God.” Mornoni 10:21”

President Monson

#1 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

“… Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

“Charity never faileth.” 2

#2  Speaking to the sisters, the Prophet Joseph said: “Don’t be limited in your views with regard to your neighbors’ virtues. … You must enlarge your souls toward others if you [would] do like Jesus. … As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your hearts expand—let them be enlarged towards others—you must be longsuffering and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of men!” 3

The scriptural declaration “Charity never faileth” became the motto of Relief Society because it embraces these teachings and the charge that the Prophet Joseph Smith had given the Relief Society sisters to “relieve the poor” and to “save souls.” 4

In reviewing Paul’s previous description of charity, we learn that charity is not a single act or something we give away but a state of being, a state of the heart, kind feelings that engender loving actions.

President Monson:

“I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, “To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike.” 11

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.”

We have a lot of sisters in our ward with very different circumstances and at very different levels in their understanding or participation in the gospel. We have a lot of sisters that are in pain. With the ward split there are a lot of sisters testing the waters anew.  How will they feel in this new ward.  Will they feel loved or judged?

Monson’s story about the windows:

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

John looked on but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.

A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”

John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

“Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning? Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?”

What about us?? How do we look at ourselves??

At the end of his discourse on charity, Paul addresses this very question: 1Corinthians 13:9-10, 12-13 #3

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 12 For now we see through a ^aglass, ^bdarkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 13 And now abideth ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This is kind of an esoteric verse but it is one of my favorites.  What it is telling us is that because of mortality we only have a partial spiritual understanding.  But when Christ comes we will have a full understanding.  That is the glass spoken of?  It is a mirror! Now we only see ourselves through a darkened mirror and do not understand ourselves fully. But Christ will reveal to us how He knows us.

Do we have Charity for ourselves? What does it mean to see through a glass darkly? How does that keep us from the gospel of Jesus Christ?

--Everyone else family at church is perfect.

--Everyone else’s marriage at church is perfect.

--Everyone else’s house, job, health…

Commenting on the pressure and anxiety often felt by those who focus on the temporal side of the Christmas season, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency said, “We have in our minds a picture of how everything should be—the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect gifts, and the perfect family events. … [But] sooner or later, something unpleasant occurs … and the picture-perfect Christmas we had imagined, the magic we had intended to create, shatters around us.”

What gifts can we give to Christ and what does he give in return:

We cannot offer perfection, and the Savior does not expect it, President Uchtdorf said. “But He does require that we bring as gifts our best efforts to move ourselves, one foot in front of the other, walking in the ways He has prepared and taught.”

“The Savior’s gifts to us are breathtaking,” President Uchtdorf said. He explained that through the Atonement, the Savior offers us immortality, forgiveness, and eternal life.

How do we gain charity? #4

Moroni 7: 48

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

I now return to the teachings of the Prophet Joseph to the sisters in the early days of the Restoration. Urging the practices of charity and benevolence, he said: “If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious will be your reward in the celestial kingdom! If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.” 16

There is a story of a woman who had to move to Africa with her husband and small children for 3 years for her husband’s job.  It was in the middle of nowhere and there was nothing that resembled home for her.  Church was just their family in their living room.  By the third Christmas she was desperately homesick!  She broke down to her friend who was a Mennonite missionary.  Her friend invited her to attend Christmas services with them in the only Protestant church in the area. Her husband took some convincing, but on Christmas Day they were ussured to the front of the little chapel like honored guests.  The preacher gave a beautiful sermon on Christ.  Then a group of Mennonite missionaries from all over Africa rose and stood in front of the little family and without music sang every verse of Come, Come Ye Saints.  The Jan was overwhelmed and she and her husband sobbed.  This friend had written to Salt Lake and requested the music of Jan’s favorite hymn, distributed the music to every missionary on the continent of Africa and they learned it on their own.  They said simply, “Our gift to you.” And with that Jan was swept home for the holidays.

These missionaries did not requires the family to accept their religion to love them.  They loved them just where they were, just as they were.  And they loved them as the family needed to be loved.  Can we do the same this season? Can we love out sisters? Our neighbors? Our family? Can we love ourselves? Can we bring everybody home?

Chapter 21: Loving God more than the World

The lesson today was Chapter 21 in the Relief Society Manual

"Loving God More than We Love the World".

 

In Joshua 24:15 it states "Choose  you this day whom ye will serve". We have got to reach a higher plane; we  have got to love God more than we love the world.

 

Shortly after Lorenzo Snow was baptized and confirmed in Kirtland, Ohio, a number of Latter-day Saints, including some Church leaders, turned against the Prophet Joseph Smith. According to Lorenzo Snow, this apostasy was fueled by speculation, or, in other words, unusual business risks in hopes of getting rich quickly.  Blinded by desire for the temporary things of the world, people turned away from the eternal blessings of the gospel.

 

About 50 years later, President Snow, serving as President of the Twelve, spoke to a group of Saints in Logan. He told them about the adversity he had witnessed in Kirtland and warned them that the would soon experience similar trials.  There is rapidly coming something that will try you, perhaps as you have never been tried before, he said. "all, however that is necessary for us to do now is to see where our faults and weaknesses lie, if we have any.  If we have been unfaithful in the past, let us renew our covenants with God and determine, by fasting and prayer, that we will get forgiveness of our sins, that the Spirit of the Almighty may rest upon us, that we may escape those powerful temptations that are approaching.  The cloud is gathering in blackness.  You see what were the results in Kirtland of this spirit of speculation. Therefore, take warning."

 

President Snow's warning continues to apply to us today. When people allow worldliness to pervade their minds and ears, they turn their backs on eternal principles.

 

Whenever we are tempted, we can ask ourselves "which side of the line am I on? Are we on the Lord's side?  We will be safe and happy when we stay within the Lord's boundaries.  Commandments have been designed by a loving Father in Heaven who knows how to protect us and help us return to live with him forever.  Our challenge during mortality is to choose the eternal kingdom or God rather than temporary earthly glory.

 

Below are a few quotes:

 

We can't be on the fence, we have to choose the right side - that's where we get blessings from.

 

"What good is it not to follow someone who can walk on water?"

 

Take a part of your day for spiritual things.  Are we worldly or of the world?  Do we have a good balance in our life?

 

If we are grateful, it keeps us where we need to be.

The Kingdom of God Moves Forward with Ashlee Gill

Ashlee began by telling the story of when Lorenzo Snow saw Christ in the Salt Lake Temple.  He had gone there to pray because he was feeling inadequate to lead the church and knew that responsibility would soon fall upon him.  His grand daughter tells the story like this:

Entering a large hallway, he received the answer—and the reassurance—he had sought. Before him stood the resurrected Savior, who told him what he needed to do. President Snow later told his granddaughter Alice Pond about this experience. Alice recorded the conversation she had with her grandfather in the Salt Lake Temple:

“In the large corridor leading into the celestial room, I was walking several steps ahead of grand-pa when he stopped me and said: ‘Wait a moment, Allie, I want to tell you something. It was right here that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to me at the time of the death of President Woodruff. He instructed me to go right ahead and reorganize the First Presidency of the Church at once and not wait as had been done after the death of the previous presidents, and that I was to succeed President Woodruff.’

“Then grand-pa came a step nearer and held out his left hand and said: ‘He stood right here, about three feet above the floor. It looked as though He stood on a plate of solid gold.’

“Grand-pa told me what a glorious personage the Savior is and described His hands, feet, countenance and beautiful white robes, all of which were of such a glory of whiteness and brightness that he could hardly gaze upon Him.

“Then [grand-pa] came another step nearer and put his right hand on my head and said: ‘Now, grand-daughter, I want you to remember that this is the testimony of your grand-father, that he told you with his own lips that he actually saw the Savior, here in the Temple, and talked with Him face to face.’”⁵

Ashlee then asked us to tell her what evidence we have that the Old Testament prophecies of the Kingdom of God rolling forth across the earth are being fulfilled.

The change in the age limit for missionaries
The disasters all across the earth bring the church into many countries as it brings aid
The growth of temples all over the world
The use of the internet in preaching the gospel

President Snow said this: "We can see the hand of the Almighty establishing a kingdom spoken of in ages long past by Daniel the Prophet,—a kingdom which shall grow and spread until it fills the whole earth [see Daniel 2:44], when light and intelligence shall be so generally diffused that it shall no longer be necessary for any man to say to his fellows, “Know ye the Lord, but all shall know him, from the least unto the greatest;” [see Jeremiah 31:34] and when the Spirit of the Lord shall be poured out upon all flesh to such a degree that their sons and their daughters shall prophesy, their old men shall dream dreams, their young men see visions [see Joel 2:28], and when there shall be nothing to hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain of the Lord [see Isaiah 11:9].^9"

President Snow also spoke of the Kingdom of God moving forward even in the face of persecution:
Brethren and sisters, God has set up His Church and Kingdom on the earth for the benefit and blessing of the human family, to guide them in the way of truth, to prepare them for exaltation in His presence and for His glorious coming and kingdom on the earth. His purposes will be accomplished in spite of all the opposition which may be brought against them by wicked men and the powers of darkness. Everything that stands in the way of this work will be removed. Nothing will be able to withstand His power, but everything that He has decreed will be fully and perfectly accomplished. The love of God for His people will continue and abide and they will triumph in His might.¹⁰

Then Ashlee shared what it was like when she recently traveled to visit her husband's family in Virginia.  Ashlee grew up in Utah and hasn't often felt that her values were being attacked. But her youngest was very fussy on the plane ride to Virginia and passengers were not understanding.  The man behind her said that she needed to get a muzzle for her kid.  That hurt her feelings, but it was the comment on the way home that really stung.  A woman behind her said, "Birth control is a good thing, isn't it?"  Ashlee know that the woman's comment reflected the values of the world. But she was trying to do what Heavenly Father values.

Teresa Anderson shares a thought from a Christian Mommy Blogger in relation to the world today advocating less children.  This woman said that Motherhood isn't a hobby it is a calling. It isn't something you squeeze in if you have time for it.  It is the reason God gave you time.

Falila Taula talked about a global conference she attended at work. Everyone had to make a presentation about themselves. Within the Utah office there was a lot of pressure not to bring up being Mormon. But she couldn't leave that out and accurately portray who she is. In her presentation she had a big picture of the temple and said that she is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that her faith is the most important thing in her life.  Everything she does at work is secondary to that.  Her boss, who is of another faith nodded his head in agreement--essentially endorsing her decision to include her faith in the discussion.

Leslie Weber talked about how standing up for each other helps us overcome persecution.  One time she was riding in the car with another sister on the way to an activity.  This sister began speaking unkindly about another sister they both knew.  Leslie was so uncomfortable and troubled, but she was tongue tied.  She vowed that if she was ever in that position again she would say something.  Sure enough, it happened again.  She spoke up in defense of the persecuted sister.  It was uncomfortable, it was awkward, but she did it!

Paea Olah talked about the impact of our examples.  She and her husband lived with her in-laws for a while after they were married.  They were not members of the church. They seemed like they didn't really care, but they were watching.  One Sunday Paea came into the kitchen for breakfast.  Her said, "Isn't it fast sunday!?" She had forgotten, but they had not.  They were watching!

Amora Doxy talked about one side of her family that has slowly moved further away from the Church and then further away from all spirituality.  It always feels like a fine line of being herself, bringing the Spirit, but not offending.  At Christmas time the whole family sings and plays instruments together.  Over the years she noticed that one by one the religious songs were disappearing for more and more Santa and snow.  She had written a Christmas song that was very spiritual and that meant a lot to her.  Her dad really wanted her to sing it (It is his side of the family) but she felt so awkward. She sang it and everyone was very loving and supportive.  She concluded that when we are brave enough to be ourselves others often let their guard down too.

Finally, Ivy, a visitor, shared her experience growing up in the Czech Republic.  She was the only member in the city when she was a teenager.  It was a somber place and few people were religious at all.  She lived there for a while with her children and tried to teach them the meaning of the gospel surrounded by a very secular society. She taught her daughter not to take the gospel for granted. One day her young daughter gave the aunt they were living with a Book of Mormon and shared how important it was to her.  Ivy could never give her sister a Book of Mormon, but by teaching her daughter the gospel the way was prepared.

I know that if we try to remain strong, the Lord will help us to be instruments in His hands to bring the Kingdom of God forth.

Leslie Weber's Lesson Gerald Lund's book Heaing the Voice of the Lord

There are many places in the scriptures where the Lord talks about His sheep hearing His voice, such as John 10:3-4, "the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and lead them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."

At the time of Christ and for centuries after, shepherds would have their sheep together in a field or pen, all mixed together.  When it was time to lead the sheep away, the shepherds would call out to the sheep and the sheep belonging to that shepherd would gather and follow the shepherd. If you asked a shepherd to touch a sheep's face while blind folded, the shepherd could tell you who that sheep was.  Christ knows us that well.  Do we know his voice that well?

Leslie had half the room sing one hymn, and the other half of the room sing a different hymn. Then she had the piano play a third hymn. While all this lovely chaos was going on, she gave a spiritual thought.  Not one woman heard a word she had to say.  Most didn't even know she was speaking at all. Not that any of this distracting music was a bad influence on our lives. But too much is too much.

The Spirit does not shake or shout. We have to be quiet enough on the inside to hear him. Lynne Kuntz mentioned that when she doesn't listen, it is harder to hear the promptings later.  But when she does listen then it gets easier and easier next time. We need to pray and ask Heavenly Father to teach us HOW the Holy Ghost speaks to us.  We need to learn how to listen, and it takes practice.

We have all RECEIVED the gift of the Holy Ghost and that is step one.  But then we must be able to RECOGNIZE the Holy Ghost. That requires faith to say, "I think that is it, I will follow it and see."  As we LISTEN to Prophets, Apostles, and read good books, we will also learn to recognize the Holy Ghost.  We need to have COURAGE to ask for the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Btu as with any blessing we ask for, we need to be prepared to receive the responsibility of that blessing and act on those promptings we have asked for. We must be READY to hear.

How do we get ourselves ready to hear?  By putting ourselves in places to be able to hear.  Being in the temple regularly is so important.  But we need to quiet our lives to make a space for listening. We discussed this a lot.  If our lives, or our children's lives, are so full of media and noise that there is no space for them to hear, then they cannot learn what it feels like to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  And isn't that exactly what the adversary wants.  We have to carefully carve out quiet spaces, at least figuratively quiet.  Family Home Evening.  Family dinner time. Scripture study. Amber White said she plays hymns as her children come tumbling through the door after school.  Her daughter flops down to rest, but doesn't turn on the TV anymore.

Amora Doxy talked about having the courage to say what we should say--that is acting on the Holy Ghost.  Vicki Drummond mentioned having faith and trust to act--even if it is a smile in the hall. Leslie said that if she will take a moment to pray and read her scriptures when the kids first leave for school, she finds she is so much further ahead in getting what she needs to get done, even though she "lost" time taking a spiritual time out.

Then she told a story about not listening to a prompting. She wanted everyone to know that this is a process and we are always all learning, making mistakes, and moving forward.

She was in the grocery store with her daughter and she had to really hurry.  She came up to the check out lanes and had a thought that she should go to lane 6.  But lane 4 was much shorter and she thought, "That's crazy. I'll get out much faster over here. I know what I'm doing."  She approached lane 4 and felt the feeling again.  but again dismissed it.  She became slightly uncomfortable, and almost turned around.  She said, "I almost listened!" but by then her daughter had started to load the food onto the conveyor belt and she would have had to take the food off.  Then the check out girl rang up an item, and she gave up. 

As the girl was checking out her groceries she was complaining about how terrible she felt.  She was sneezing and wiping her nose.  She said she had not come in to work the day before because she was SO sick she couldn't get out of bed at all and she barely felt better now.  Leslie was polite, but horrified inside.  She got home and felt like she had to disinfect everything in her bags.  This woman had handled her produce!!  Sure enough, after a couple of days Leslie got very sick.  I can attest that she was one miserable woman!

Leslie shared this story to emphasize that the Lord cares about the details of our lives.  The whisperings of the Holy Ghost are not just for big spiritual manifestations.  The Lord sends us promptings to show us He loves us and will help us in the details of our lives.

If you get a chance, listen to Allen Parson's "The Voice"  Amora Doxy talked about how her father would play it around the campfire when she was a girl.  It begins with conflicting melodies and dissonant chords and slowly falls into a quiet, beautiful melody.  It encourages her to quiet her life.  May we all quiet our lives and the lives of our families so that we can make room to hear the voice of the Lord.

Lesson By Marilyn Bullock October 20, 2013

This lesson post is a bit unusual. Click HERE to read the lesson notes.  But I will tell you below about some of the comments made during the lesson. 

Marilyn's lesson was based on the article, "The Healing Balm of Hope" by Vaughn E. Worthen in the September 2013 Ensign. 

Click Here to go to the article the lesson was based on from the Ensign. Or you can listen to the talk by clicking HERE.

Marilyn told us that this article jumped off the page to her. She knew she needed to talk about this topic and from the class comments I know that she was right.  She shared her experience of having 3 of her 5 children rebel against the gospel. She defined hope as patience in current circumstances with faith that things will get better. She did not have that hope for a while when she struggled with her rebellious children.  She spent so much time agonizing over what she had done wrong. She went to the temple often searching for peace and inspiration. I know many mothers doing the same thing--they go to the temple with the hope and promise that their children will return. Finally, one day while in the temple, Marilyn was given a sense of peace that released her burden and allowed her to move forward in her life.  Her agonizing was replaced by hope. She knew miracles can happen.

Her miracle is that two of those three children have come back, slowly but surely. Everything isn't perfect. But she has HOPE. She feels like her hope can give hope to other mothers also facing this trial.

Marilyn asked us what our definition of hope is and these were some of the responses:

Jessica Jazexhiu: It is what gets you out of bed in the morning. If reality isn't what you want it to be, it can get better.

Melanie Twitty: Know that the Lord has a plan and keep the end in sight.

Amora Doxy: Trust in the Lord.

Misty Amendola: Sometimes you are in the neck of the bottle--you are being squeezed tight waiting for release. Things will get better.

Alyssa Lee talked about working with youth in a mental institution and the need she has to teach hope daily.  Often we represent hope to others as we love and serve them.

There were a lot of very tender feelings shared by women also struggling with rebellious children.  My take away from this was that if you struggle with this issue, YOU are NOT ALONE. Do not believe that your family is defective in a Utah sea of perfect families. Reach out. There are many women who know and understand your pain. Band together to comfort each other and give each other hope. Women talked about being embarrassed in front of other ward members. They talked of feeling like a bad parent because of the choices their children make. But these women continue to attend the temple and attend their church meetings because they are struggling to maintain hope.  I love their courage and determination.  I love them for sharing their feelings with us.

Read Brother Worthen's article and allow the seed of hope be planted with your faith.

Chapter 17: Priesthood

Chapter 17: Priesthood—“for the Salvation of the Human Family”
Presented by Shauna Boyce

Elder Oaks defines the priesthood as the power and authority of God.  It has always existed and will continue to exist without end.  Through the priesthood, God created and governs the heavens and the earth.  Through this power, He exalts his obedient children, bringing to them the immortality and eternal life of man.  In mortality, priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children.  The blessings of the priesthood are available to all who receive the gospel.

The question was posed, “What gifts do you have in your life because of the priesthood?”

Felila Taula shared the experience of her little girl being born without oxygen.  The doctor said there was nothing more he could do.  The only thing left was a priesthood blessing in which the baby was blessed to live.  After 17 minutes her heart started.

Mindy Degraffenried shared how she had an opposite experience where her baby did not live, but the priesthood brought her the gift of peace and understanding.

Alison Pruitt shared her experience with having her adopted son sealed to her by the power of the priesthood, and the sure knowledge she gained that he truly is hers.

Sue Spencer shared about her husband’s plane accident and the traumatic brain injury he sustained 18 years ago.  In his absence her sons have come to administer priesthood blessings to her through which she feels the power of God.

Julie Wilkinson shared her testimony of the power of the priesthood, how she would go to her father and ask for blessings throughout her life.  She would not be here without the priesthood, and her son Jonathan would not be here without the power of the priesthood.

Misty Amendola shared her testimony of how the power of the priesthood can heal us physically and emotionally, help us overcome addiction, cast out evil, etc.  She encouraged us to ask for priesthood blessings, call the missionaries or home teachers.  Invite the blessings of the priesthood in to our lives.

Janice Nau shared how the priesthood allows families to be sealed together forever and how her testimony of this has been strengthened as she serves in her calling with Family History work.

The priesthood helps us find happiness in this life and throughout eternity.

That We May Become One

LESSON 16 from Manual:  "THAT WE MAY BECOME ONE".

Lesson was given by Julie Wilkinson.

 

"The voice of the Almighty called us out from the midst of confusion... to form a union and a lovely brotherhood, in which we should love one another as we love ourselves."

 

Sister Wilkinson started the lesson with some visual aids.  Two pieces of rope that were used to hold mosquito netting in her back yard.  One was frayed, having been picked at repeatedly by birds, and was rendered completely useless for its intended purpose, which was to strengthen  and bind things together.  The second piece of rope was not only completely in tact, but had been lengthened and made useful for additional purposes by attaching a second rope to it, making it longer .  The moral of the story was that Satan will peck at us, making just a little progress each time, until we lose our strength and resolve.  Unless we are unified and help strengthen each other, we will be open to the constant buffeting of Satan.

 

Jesus prayed to his Father for blessings upon His followers, saying: "I pray that thou wilt give them the same love which thou hast for me, that I may be in them and thou in me, that all may be one."   

 

Some of the reasons why it is so important to the Savior that we become one (unified) are:  1) unity creates love and peace; 2) we are stronger when we are unified; 3) dissention/contention undermines our progress.   We fall short in becoming unified when we fail to defend one another or our Church leaders; when we gossip (gossip is poison to the soul); when we judge others or criticize them. 

 

Unity is becoming one in thought, desire, and purpose, first with God, then with the Church, and then with each other.  We also need to become unified with ourselves!  We are divided within, the natural man with the spirit.  As we follow Christ, the spirit will dominate until we are transformed. 

 

President Snow pointed out that all unity starts with unity in the family.  He counseled that husbands and wives should always respect each other and that they should never discuss their differences or disagreements in front of their children.  When there are disagreements, they should find a private place, discuss their differences, and present a unified approach to their Children.  Unity at all levels begins with a unified family raising and setting an example for their children. 

 

The sisters suggested several ways in which we can build more unity within our families;

    1.  Create a family mission statement, a family song and or a personal family flag!

    2.  Have scripture study, allowing the older children to find solutions to family problems in the scriptures.

    3.  Do not tolerate discord and fighting among the children.

    4.  Morning and evening family prayers where the children are encouraged to pray for each other.

    5.  Holding family council meetings where the children are involved in decision making

    6.  Building stronger family relationships through family activities such as games, sports and vacations.

    7.  Turning off the TV and reducing its negative impact on your family.

 

Sister Wilkinson shared some stories of how reaching out to inactive or nonmember neighbors builds unity in the community and through service and inclusion of everyone can lead to building the Kingdom.  One young lady moved to Utah with her family.  Although her parents were members, she became involved with and married the president of the motorcycle club.  She said she thought her neighbors were probably hesitant when a young couple wearing leather jackets and boots and riding motorcycles moved into their neighborhood.  But, soon they found that someone was helping them mow their lawn because they didn't have a lawn mover; flowers or food would show up at their door when someone was ill; and always, everyone was friendly and accepting.  Soon, they found themselves trading their leather boots and jackets for the white slippers and clothing of the temple.  All because of a unified neighborhood and people looking out for another. 

 

In the city of Enoch, the Savior walked the streets.  The entire city was translated because of the goodness of the people.  They accomplished this by first eradicating poverty, by becoming spiritually united with all of their neighbors, and eventually becoming a city of love.  In the City of Nephi, they became a perfect city by first repenting, forgiving others, they spoke no ill of each other; there was no rich and no poor among them; they let go of pride, fasted and prayed, and had the love of God in their hearts.  The Spirit dwelled with them.

 

With these examples as our ideals, let us strive to live the gospel and keep the commandments.  Let us allow the Saviors atonement to sanctify us.