Lesson for September 22, 2013

“Come Unto Me” President Henry B. Eyring Lesson for September 22, 2013 Our lesson was given by Jessica Lewis. President Eyring gave a lovely talk. He began by saying he was grateful to be in this church, God’s church. He invites us to be close to Him. His talk was about how we can come close to the Savior. The Spirit is our greatest teacher, so we need to reflect on what we can do to come closer and the Spirit will prompt us. President Eyring made a promise that if we will do what He tells us, we will come close to Him. He says that we come closer to Him through simple acts, such as meeting with the Saints. He remembers an experience when it was cold and dark outside the church meeting and yet it was light and warm inside. How have we grown closer to the Savior by obedience? Sister Harker said she was feeling anxious and wasn’t reading her scriptures, but she got the feeling to read her scriptures and she was comforted. Another sister told of being a missionary and having trials getting her investigators to the church meetings. She asked the Lord what to do because the mission president was coming to visit their meeting. She and her companion decided to fast, which was very hard. We just knew that was the right thing to do to demonstrate their faith. They went to everyone they had ever taught and when they showed up, there were 5 investigators there and then a little old lady who had said she would never come, showed up. There were 7 eventually who showed up. She and her companion gained a testimony that fasting is real. Another sister moved out here with her car filled up with her things and no job and no plans. She went to the temple with her friend and she found an apartment and then a job and her life started falling in place. President Eyring told the stories of Biblical people who had been faithful at the time of Christ’s death and the results of their obedience, such as the women at the tomb, and the men on the road to Emmaeus. Christ said to the men that he would tarry with them as they invited him. He ate with them and then Christ vanished. They asked if their hearts had not burned while he was with them. They went back to the other apostles where Christ came again. How have the scriptures brought you closer to the Savior. Sister Card told of getting little impressions about checking on her young children, but nothing was every wrong. She got another impression one day and checked, only to find that her children were playing with matches. Another sister said she wasn’t particularly happy and then she decided to get up early to study the scriptures. She didn’t know why, but that is what she decided to do. She decided to write her thoughts and set a time to study. She could tell such a difference, made her happy, she could study better, and she found friends. It made such a difference just because she was trying, with a humility to accept whatever the Lord wanted to tell her. Sister Cantrell has a daughter who is experiencing difficulty. Sister Cantrell worried and prayed and felt the presence of the Savior. She got the impression to kneel down and pray and read the scriptures. She was able to tell her daughter to be kind to those who were giving trouble and that kindness begets kindness. President Eyring said that the Savior cares for us as he cared for others, and we should care for others and comfort them. We are under covenant both to lift up those in need and to be witnesses of the Savior as long as we live. We will be able to do it without fail only as we feel love for the Savior and His love for us. As we are faithful to the promises we have made, we will feel love for Him. It will increase because we will feel His power and His drawing near to us in His service. Sister Emily Campbell said that by switching her focus from managing her family while her girls are so ill to serving her daughters, her love for her daughters has increased beyond what she thought possible. What she thought was important before, is not so important. Another sister said her sister-in-law lost her baby, but she had hers due about the same time and it was hard. Another sister said she is newly married and sometimes counts times she’s done dishes or her husband has and she has found she needs to serve her husband and not keep count. Sister Lopez said that service is part of our covenant and we promised to keep it. Another sister said to put things in the terms of what Christ would do, and He doesn’t keep a tally. He sees us in a different light from what we see ourselves and our spouses. There is so much more to what He sees us as. A visiting sister said that although so many good people are doing good things, when we do things under the direction of the priesthood order, we are brought closer to Christ. The world is trying to seek their own way, when what we are really being called to do is be united in Christ and come unto Him and then everyone would be taken care of.