Relief Society Lesson for October 27, 2013 "The Windows of Heaven"

Relief Society lesson October 27, 2013 Our lesson today is from the Teachings of Our Times and was given by Sister Jessica Lewis. It was on a talk by Elder David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven.” Jessica had been thinking of all of us and how much she loves us, even if she doesn’t know us very well. She asked for us to share our insights. The first lesson Elder Bednar talked about was the significant but subtle blessings we are blessed with as we pay our tithing the second is the way tithing has blessed the church. Sister Bednar always kept faithful records of her finances as she learned from her mother. In going over these records, her mother realized that their doctor’s bills were very low in comparison to what they should be and realized they had received a blessing from paying tithing. Sister Laycock said she went on a USO tour and was paid a per diem and decided to pay tithing on it. She had finished her student teaching before and no job in sight. When she came home she got a job within a week. Amy Young said that even if you are awful with your money, pay your tithing and you will survive better. Another sister said that while planning her wedding, it was expensive. Her husband had to work on Sunday and decided to give that money to fast offerings or tithing and she feels they have been provided for. Emily Campbell said that paying tithing does not just change our circumstances, it changes us as people. It shows the Lord that we want to do what He wants us to do. She feels it has changed things in her life for the better. Another sister said that it is our way of showing the Lord we are serious. Paying our tithing also gives us access to the services in the church. Sister Bell said that her family had nine children and her father was in and out of work. They lived on nothing. They always made it through and her parents paid their tithing. Those growing up years for her made her family closer. Linda Campbell said her family wasn’t active, but when she came to BYU and read the scriptures, she read that if you pay your tithing, you won’t burn as stubble and it had a huge effect on her. She did not want to burn. Sister Bahr said that in good times, she and her husband try to pay more tithing than they could. They feel that they will be supported in the bad things. She’s even had a big chunk of money come in just when they needed it. In Malachi, he alluded to the windows of heaven if we honor the law of tithing. Elder Bednar also said paying tithing enriches our souls. Keeping a grateful attitude helps us feel like we are not going without. When we seek employment, we can enjoy an enhanced gift of discernment because we are looking through heavenly windows. We may appropriately expect improved circumstances, but the blessing that comes through heavenly windows, we may be empowered to change our circumstances. Emily Campbell said a grateful attitude teaches not to be entitled to having things given to us. Sue Ann Harding said she and her husband were on poor salary for her husband for three years, and prayed for a higher salary. Now he has one and they know they can live on less and save the rest. Sister Cantrell said her husband is retired from the military, but not with a great retirement and she and her husband needed another job. They have always helped their children and paid a generous fast offering. He was able to get a job in McDonald’s and it is a great help to their family. Another story was that an uncle who was Catholic was able to give his offerings to her family with the blessing of the priest and that blessed their family. Elder Bednar is on the committee on the disposition of the tithes. He said our tithes help so many others in the church and programs in the church. The leaders of the Church feel a great responsibility to administer the widow’s mite well.

Lesson October 20, 2013

Relief Society Lesson, “The Kingdom of God Moves Forward” on October 20, 2013 Out lesson on “The Kingdom of God Moves Forward” was by Amy Fehlberg. Amy asked us how many of us read the lesson. Not one person had. She told us about going to the Sacred Grove while she was in middle school and it was the first time she really felt the Spirit and the Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. She read from Joseph Smith’s History verse 11-12 where it tells about Joseph Smith reading in James 1:5 about how God would answer prayers. In verse 17-18 it talks about the appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ and how they spoke to Joseph Smith and told him that none of the churches was correct. Amy said her father has an original Book of Mormon with Joseph Smith’s signature in it. She said they’ve always had a huge appreciation for the Book of Mormon and what Joseph Smith went through to bring it about. After his death, in Nauvoo that many thought the Church was done, but under the guidance of the Almighty, the Church moves forward. Whenever a prophet dies, the Church moves forward. When Wilford Woodruff got ill, Lorenzo Snow, who was the president of the Quorum of the Twelve, became afraid, but promised the Lord that he would do what was required of him by the Lord. After he said his prayer, President Snow, President Woodruff died. President Snow prayed in the temple for reassurance and did not get his answer until he went out into the corridor to the celestial room where the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him to reorganize the quorum. He said Jesus stood about 3 feet off the floor and seemed to stand on a plate of gold. President Snow told his granddaughter when they were in the temple together and said it was the testimony of her grandfather. Paige Gibson said she was impressed that he did not get his answer right away, but went forward even so. He showed he had faith. Another sister said she was impressed that his first prayer that President Woodruff not die was answered with “no.” The same thing happened to Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and the benefit is tremendous to us. So when we are told no, perhaps it is for our benefit or the benefit of others. Amy said that the Garden of Gethsemane is amazing to visit. She could feel her Savior’s love for her. She asked about experiences where we have felt the Spirit. One sister told of when President Hinckley died, it was hard because he was the only prophet she knew. She had to pray to get the same testimony of President Monson and appreciate the Church moving on. Amy said she also felt sad when President Hinckley died and had to learn to love President Monson. She said the same thing happened when her ward was disbanded and they moved into our ward. Sister Sandy Green said that studying the prophets helps us learn to love and appreciate past prophets. Amy moved to how the kingdom of God will stand throughout the rest of time on the earth. It gives her comfort that the Church is here and led by Heavenly Father and to know it is here. Daniel 2:44 says that God shall set up His kingdom that shall never be destroyed and stand forever. Sister Jill said that she wants those she loves can join in the Church. Another sister said that she is comforted that no one can mess up the Church by themselves. Amy said that when someone makes a mistake it doesn’t make the Church untrue. Amy read that God has set up his kingdom to benefit families and guide them for his glorious second coming. To talk about the kingdom being destroyed and it is like moving the sun from its orbit. Sister Hickman said she wrote a letter to her grandson and asked him if he knew a certain team is going to win, would he want to be on that team? Amy read that those who want to destroy Mormonism, just let them do what they want, but the Church will not perish. There will always be a ram caught in the thicket to keep us safe. How do we handle opposition? One sister said we can turn things into missionary experiences. She had a friend whose pastor talked against Mormons. The friend asked questions of the sister and actually became baptized. Sister Bahr said she works in a non-Mormon environment. She was working last week on a project and her boss said she shouldn’t be nervous because the Holy Ghost would help her. He was joking, but she said she could pray, and he didn’t want her to, but it brought up some of her co-workers remembering good things about the Church. She gave her boss a Book of Mormon and he thanked her. Amy said it is important for us to realize that we may have hard times, but we are supported by the Lord. Will we make the sacrifice and prove ourselves. We need to be prepared to make those sacrifices. Amy said her mother was here last week and she told Amy about Job, who lost everything and gained it all back and then some. God will make our weak things become strong. Erin said her mother lost her husband and moved to California. They met an LDS person who helped them convert. They moved from San Diego to Utah, kids kicking and screaming, and yet they have regained everything and then some. Another sister said her husband had 10 children and lost them in divorce. He then remarried her and they married when she had 5 children and they had 5 more. He had sores because of diabetes, yet he felt that he had regained everything, like Job. We need to trust the Lord.

Ward Halloween Party October 25

Come to the ward Halloween party, Friday, October 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the church building. Costumes welcome, but no masks. we will have games, refreshments and prizes. Come and enjoy fellowship with ward members.

Lesson for October 13, 2013

Relief Society Lesson October 23, 2013 Our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp, “Missionary Work to Reach Every Heart.” Maggie remembered a talk when she was young on missionary work that had an object lesson with folding your arms. We always fold our arms in a specific way and to do the opposite feels weird. She asked who had served missions or had missionary experiences, either formally or informally. The lesson was taken from a talk by Lorenzo Snow to missionaries. How do we apply what missionaries are taught to our missions. He was at a point in his life when he had to decide between serving a mission or going to school. He leaned toward going to school, but he felt he had a duty to serve a mission and he served many missions up until he was 71 years old. Sisters share how they were called. Vira Bahr was a convert who felt she needed to share what she had learned about the gospel. Sister Linda Campbell and her husband served a mission locally after he retired because his eyesight was bad. While they served, he had surgery and his eyesight was restored. They felt it was a blessing. Amy Young went to a meeting and came away with a strong feeling that she should serve a mission. Irma Lopez said her neighbors noticed that they always got up and got ready for church, instead of doing sports, so it was their example that caught their attention. Sharing the gospel is a commandment and the early saints were committed to doing it. President Snow said that just after they settled in Utah in their poverty, they turned their attention to sharing the gospel and sent people on missions through great hardship. Sisters shared obstacles they had to overcome. Linda Campbell said that when you do it, you lose the fear of sharing. Even her granddaughter Tori shared by wearing her CTR ring and her friend and family were baptized and sealed in the temple. Emily Campbell said they learned that sharing their lives with their friends and saying this is who I am let people know about the Church. One sister told about a neighbor who heard anti-Mormon stuff from her minister. This sister said that through teaching this woman to make bread and sew, the woman saw that the sister believed in Christ and lived her religion? Sister Bahr said she had to learn to rectify incorrect beliefs. She also said we can give donations to the missionary fund. She said in her country, Ukraine, young people cannot save enough to go on missions. Heather Cantrell said in South Africa she carried a Book of Mormon everywhere with her and gave away copies all the time. She found that just saying, “Read it and pray about it.” She found out fifteen years later that a friend had joined and sent the missionaries to Heather to tell her. Another sister told of using social media and commenting about gospel things that happen. Sister Hickman said the missionaries a have to spend a certain amount of time on Facebook. Sister Cook said that being a good example to relatives on Facebook and sharing what she does daily on Facebook. Maggie said she tries to share with relatives. Linda Campbell said that a person who needs to be reached can be placed there by the Lord. Adele Hickman said that when she was doing family history she had people from Germany telling her to contact Mormons, because they know what to do with family history. Maggie told of a friend who decided to share the gospel and she applied the scriptures to her life so she decided to tell scripture stories to people who came to her with problems. That was OK and worked really well and helped her make friends with several people. The virtue lies in missionaries being willing to obey the commandments. Sister Bell said that moving from Iowa to Utah made her lax in sharing the gospel. She realizes that she has neighbors who don’t come to church, so she can share with them. She shouldn’t be afraid to share with anyone. Maggie said we all need to strengthen each other. Irma Lopez said we can do missionary work in our homes and neighborhood. Out of a ward with 400 people, we will have only 100 come to church.