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.