Lesson for March 10, 2013--The Grand Destiny of the Faithful

Sister  Megan Williams gave the lesson for today from chapter Chapter 5  of the Lorenzo Snow Sister  gave the lesson for today from chapter Chapter 5  of the Lorenzo Snow manual, "The Grand Destiny of the Faithful." She started the lesson, "The Grand Destiny of the Faithful." She started the lesson with the first paragraph: In the spring of 1840, Lorenzo Snow was in Nauvoo, Illinois, preparing to leave for a mission in England. He visited the home of his friend Henry G. Sherwood, and he asked Brother Sherwood to explain a passage of scripture. "While attentively listening to his explanation," President Snow later recalled, "the Spirit of the Lord rested mightily upon me--the eyes of my understanding were opened, and I saw as clear as the sun at noonday, with wonder and astonishment, the pathway of God and man. I formed the following couplet which expresses the revelation, as it was shown me. …  "As man now is, God once was:  "As God now is, man may be."1 Sister Lee said it means we can become like God and have great potential. Sister B said it was a mind blowing concept when she became a member of the Church.  In addition to making this truth a theme for many of his sermons, he adopted it as the theme for his life. His son LeRoi said, "This revealed truth impressed Lorenzo Snow more than perhaps all else; it sank so deeply into his soul that it became the inspiration of his life and gave him his broad vision of his own great future and the mighty mission and work of the Church."3 It was his "constant light and guide" and "a bright, illuminating star before him all the time--in his heart, in his soul, and all through him."4 Megan said it makes want to learn so much more so we can fulfill our potential. We read the following passage: I believe that we are the sons and daughters of God, and that He has bestowed upon us the capacity for infinite wisdom and knowledge, because He has given us a portion of Himself. We are told that we were made in His own image, and we find that there is a character of immortality in the soul of man. There is a spiritual organism within this tabernacle [the physical body], and that spiritual organism has a divinity in itself, though perhaps in an infantile state; but it has within itself the capability of improving and advancing, as the infant that receives sustenance from its mother. Though the infant may be very ignorant, yet there are possibilities in it that by passing through the various ordeals of childhood to maturity enable it to rise to a superiority that is perfectly marvellous, compared with its infantile ignorance.6 Megan said president Snow often taught that we are children of God, so how does this help us know w ho we are. We read the quote This is the high destiny of the sons of God, they who overcome, who are obedient to His commandments, who purify themselves even as He is pure. They are to become like Him; they will see Him as He is; they will behold His face and reign with Him in His glory, becoming like unto Him in every particular. So How can we prepare our children to know they are children of God:  several sisters mentioned that how we treat our children helps them be secure in that knowledge and to know they have a divine mission. One sister said that when she thinks of cultivating, she thinks of a lot of work.  Another said it is by our example. It is by spiritual maturity. It is by being a good parent. We can't remain children, we have to grow up to be like God while remaining humble and teachable like a child. After all, Christ calls us His friends. sister Campbell said we need to teach our children to pray to God like a friend. sister Roundy said we need to write down with our inspirational experiences. sister Cantrell said we could bring the temple into our homes for inspiration. We read further where the lesson said,  "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." [ Revelation 21:7 ]  What an expression is that? Who believes it? If a father were to say to his son, "My son, be faithful, and follow my counsels, and when you become of age you shall inherit all that I possess," it would mean something, would it not? If the father told the truth, that son would have something to encourage him to be faithful. Did Jesus want to deceive us when He made use of this expression? I will assure you that there is no deception in the language. He meant precisely what He said. Again, Jesus said:  "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." [ Revelation 3:21 ]  That is a wonderful saying. Is there any truth in it? It is all true. It is the Lord Almighty that said it. We are told in the Scriptures by the Apostle Paul:  "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." [ 2 Corinthians 5:1 ]  I believe that. And when he says that Jesus "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" [ Philippians 3:21 ] I believe that also. Do the Latter-day Saints believe these things that I am talking about? You must, of course, believe them. Again:  "For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; Page: 88  "And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;  "And he that receiveth my Father, receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him." [ D&C 84:36–38 ]  Could anyone think of anything more that could be given? … Paul comprehended these things very well, for he said he "pressed forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." [See Philippians 3:14 ] One sister said if we knew how great our inheritance could be, it might motivate us. we went on to read, There could not be placed before men more glorious prospects than are placed before the Saints. No mortal man could wish anything greater or that will ultimately prove more satisfactory. Everything that pertains to perfect peace, happiness, glory and exaltation is before the Latter-day Saints. We should enjoy the spirit of this, and keep it actively before us. We should not let our prospects be darkened in the least by doing that which is not acceptable before the Lord.13 What can we do to keep our potential fresh? Going to the temple and doing initiatory is a great way to keep it fresh. The only time we should scream in our home is if there is a fire. We frequently, in the multitude of cares around us, get forgetful and these things are not before us, then we do not comprehend that the gospel is designed and calculated in its nature to bestow upon us those things that will bring glory, honor and exaltation, that will bring happiness, peace and glory. We are apt to forget these things in the midst of the cares and vexations of life, and we do not fully understand that it is our privilege, and that the Lord has placed it in our reach to pursue that gospel whereby we may have peace within us continually. …sister Cantrell said it always amazes her that people can sit through a three hour movie and stay awake but they come to church and fall asleep. Another said Music of the church strengthens us. Another said we need to have scripture study.