Lesson for November 24, 2013

Relief Society Lesson for November 24, 2013 Today our lesson was given by Jessica Lewis. From President Thomas S Monson’s conference talk on home teaching. She wanted to relate it to visiting teaching. President Monson started out by telling the story of going up Provo Canyon to stay as a family in the summer. He told of seeing sheep in the canyon being driven by dogs with a shepherd in the rear. In Munich, Germany he saw a shepherd leading his flock and everywhere he went, they went. He likened this shepherd to Jesus Christ, acting as our shepherd. Amy Young said that the new program has the RS presidency sits down together and puts together their callings and present their decision to the bishop. It seems to work out because God is involved. Joyce Garner said it helps to have inspiration with prayer. Irma Lopez emphasized how important it is to have the Lord’s help. Another sister said that when she was in a presidency, she prayed about a position and had the Lord tell her to call someone she did not get along with, but she was able to have it work out beautifully. It’s interesting how the Lord works. When one sister had was a visiting teacher and had a sister taken from her group and put in another. She wondered why and realized that Amy had felt the inspiration to move the sister. Another sister said we should just do it—that visiting teaching is a wonderful. Sister Bell said that our responsibility is to become a friend to the sisters. Jessica said that one of the most important things is to develop a relationship with the sisters so that we can ask and give help. President Monson had some ideas on what the best ways are to build relationships. He said Abraham Lincoln said that if you want to win someone to your side, you should make him your friend. We should be friends. One sister said that after a divorce and starting in her career, she moved to Utah County and joined a singles ward and the first person who said hi to her was her visiting teacher and became her friend. Jessica said that one of her best friends became her friend because they were visiting teachers together. She said she also was a visiting teacher with Claudia and she will love her til she dies. She saw a gentler side of Claudia and how caring she was. It was a testimony to her of how important a friend is. Another sister said that the best visiting teachers she has had see what she needs and then do what she needs. President Monson said we are wise if we learn and observe the needs of our sisters and just do what is needed. Jessica said that in the Gospel Principles class that the teacher said he once needed a plunger from his neighbor who just gave it to him. He said it would not have been appropriate if the neighbor had gathered his family together and prayed first. Claudia Laycock said it is important for those being visited to help schedule visits. You can’t become friends if they don’t let you come in. Jill Judd said that there was a time when she was ill when her visiting teachers arranged for a priesthood blessing without asking first, but had them there for her and she was grateful. We have to notice when we can help. Sister Bahr said if she doesn’t get a response from those she visits, she sometimes just shows up. Her visiting teachers actually brought her a box of goodies and spiritual thoughts that meant a lot to her. If you can’t reach people, you can take them goodies. One sister said she learns from those she visits and it is a blessing to her. President Monson said that a visit is more effective sometimes if you schedule. He had his home teacher showed up when President Monson was entertaining other apostles. So the home teacher was allowed to give a lesson to apostles and he left hurriedly. Not the best. Sister Judd said her best home teachers were those fresh off their missions who used missionary teaching methods. Another sister said it worked for her to print off a lesson and leave it even though she couldn’t get in the door for one sister. Erin said we should help our husbands do home teaching. She said her husband followed her example in caring about our ward family and taking care of each other. President Monson said that home teaching answers many prayers. One man, Dick Hammer, was home taught for years and finally was baptized in his ninetieth year and a year later took out his endowments. His home teacher said it was worth every moment and effort spent. President Monson said that over the years we will have many opportunities to give service and make friends with those we visit. He also said that even if we have not been diligent, we have the opportunity now to improve and become committed. He said the work is ongoing and will go on, so we should do so faithfully. He closed with an example, Jesus Christ, who was the greatest teacher and the most dedicated to our happiness. The Biblical account said he went about doing good. We will be come true shepherds by following him.

Ward Christmas Party December 14 9:00 a.m.

Come join with us on December 14 at 9:00 a.m. for breakfast and activities. Bring your favorite nativity scene and enjoy fellowship with everyone

Lesson for November 17, 2013

Lesson for November 17, 2013 Today our lesson was given by Amy Fehlberg. Why should we want to do service? Because if we don’t have the right attitude, it doesn’t help them or you. When someone serves us we want to feel like they care about us. We serve because it feels good and we learn to love those we serve. President Snow said that we have the same father in the celestial world, and if we knew each other as we should we would have a desire to serve each other, especially as we learn more about the gospel. Amy said that she has a sister she has to work to serve, but since she is her sister, Amy tries harder. Another sister said that if we viewed people as our neighbors or family members, we would love them more. If we don’t know them, we are sometimes quicker to pre-judge them. Sister Bahr said she has a sister who is hard to get along with, but as they have interacted with her, her sister has changed. So change can take place. She realized that she has to change within herself. Emily Campbell said her family has had so many anonymous gifts, donations and blood donations, and it changed how she feels about people in general, because she doesn’t know who gave to her family. President Snow said to cultivate a spirit of charity and expect to do more for others than you would expect them to do for you. For example, Jesus Christ has done more for us than we can ever do for him. In our own ward, we need to reach out to even the people who have been alienated. You have to go with the Spirit. Amy showed a video about service. There are several videos on the Church web site for viewing by members. This one is by Elder Oaks. Mosiah 2:17 is a verse that is about service when Mosiah says all should serve. Elder Oaks said that we should deny ourselves of things that get in the way of service. We have opportunities in families to adjust our lives to support others. None of this service has in it what’s in it for me. We are happier for what we give not what we get. Our Savior asks us to lose ourselves in service for others. Jessica Lewis said what it really comes down to is love and it really doesn’t feel like service because we want to due to the great love we have. Service naturally follows love. Emily Campbell said it is a righteous circle that snowballs. Amy said that being a family member gives us all opportunities for service. Doing service in our own homes is terribly important. President Snow said that parents can influence their children for eternity through example as much as by what we say. Our Savior came to earth and was the perfect example of love and service. President Snow said that the highest life attainable is service. Service is the rent we pay for being here on earth. Another reason for service is that it brings us happiness and blessings. If we serve, our gloom will be gone. Why does our happiness increase? Because we are not focused on ourselves. It is more important to make others feel happy than to have our feelings hurt. Joni Trewartha said at work they have to get so many points a year for their wellness and one of the things they can do for points is to serve others. Linda Campbell said she wants the gospel for her sisters she visiting teaches. Sue Ann Harding said she teaches students who don’t believe in God and they have no reason to serve others, but she can help them to believe that when they serve others, they can feel happy. She has to tell them that then others will treat them better and it will affect all those around them. Amy showed another video about a family with a lot kids who need a lot of attention, especially some handicapped children. It told about church members who made a ramp for them to help them get out of the house. The mother told how much she loves her girls and those who serve her family. Heavenly Father asks us to love one another and she appreciates those who love her family. Amy said Heavenly Father wants us to love his other children like he does. She broke us up into groups to talk about service others have done for us.

Lesson for November 3, 2013 by Amy Young on Gratitude

Relief Society Lesson for November 3, 2013 Our lesson today was taught by Amy Young, our Relief Society president, on Gratitude. She read a poem about gratitude for simple things that mean we have friends, homes, and such. Aldous Huxley said that human beings have a great capacity for taking things for granted. Various sisters said things. We breath air and our hearts beat. We have a beautiful chapel. We have clean water. We have children. We have ward friends who care for us and love us. Just to have the gospel and fast Sunday and all the blessings that Heavenly Father gives us. What are we taking for granted? When we look at them, it lightens our hearts. We have modern conveniences that let us communicate, wash, dry, clean, and lots of other things. Amy’s daughter broke her leg last summer and she went back to school and said, “The kids at school have no idea they are lucky they can walk.” D&C 46:32 You must give thanks for whatsoever God gives you, is essentially what one said. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 said we should also give thanks. One sister said that God went to the trouble to make this earth and then handed it over to us. We should be thankful for it because it is a gift. President Monson, in October 2010, talked of a grateful heart. He said that being grateful requires effort. If it doesn’t require effort, no good will come out of it. What kind of effort does it take to have a grateful heart. Some people have that attitude and it comes easily. Thank you notes and prayers take some time and effort. It is a habit and an attitude. Sister Bahr’s mother-in-law goes to a lot of work to make things happen that are good for her grandchildren. So Sister Bahr wonders what will happen if she is no longer there. Sister Judd said that when her children are in a critical mood, they play a game where they say, “I am grateful for something that starts with D.” And sometimes this gets hilarious. Sometimes children turn out the way their families behave, so if people are critical and cross, the children will become that way. Elder Bednar said that gratitude is a spiritual gift that enables our appreciation for what we have that constrains our desires for what we want. Sister Hickman said she picked up her son from his mission in Ecuador and on the way from the airport he mentioned that we are so rich. Amy’s brother served in the Philippines and never saw such happy people, even though they aren’t wealthy. Feeling envious is a dark feeling. How can we switch our focus? Making list of our blessings is a good way. Sister Lewis is reading Pollyanna and thinks that her habit of finding something good in every thing, even if it is bad there is a good thing. Emily Campbell said they have books in different parts of the house, a blessings book and other things and each kid has a gratitude book. Write on the bathroom mirror things like, “What am I grateful for today?” “What is my attitude today?” Do we see what is lacking, like the disciples before Jesus took the loaves and the fishes and gave thanks for them and a miracle occurred. Notice it was after Jesus gave thanks. When we are grateful for what God gives us, he can give us more. Laura Campbell said that part of our human experience is to mourn and her friend said that all she needed was someone to listen and validate. She didn’t need favors or material things, just someone to listen and be with her in mourning phase. Although we need to be grateful, we also need to be realistic and then maybe we can move on. We shouldn’t push someone to move on before they are ready. Paige Gibson said that sometimes when we make our list, we realize there is more to add to the list and more and more. Recognizing what we have is sometimes the miracle. Charles Schwab said he never met anyone who did not do better under approval than under criticism. In order to teach gratitude in our families, we need to foster appreciation. If we want others to continue doing what they are doing, we need to show appreciation. President Eyring gave a talk in 2008 where he said he kept a list of blessings and how he had seen the hand of God in his life and the lives of his loved ones. More than gratitude grew in his heart; his testimony grew. Some have books and some do other things. Jenni Harker writes funny things that happen during bad times. Writing these things down help us remember. If it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen. If you are struggling with another person, if you write down what you like about them, things get better. President Monson said that sincerely giving thanks opens the windows of heaven and helps us feel God’s love. We can lift ourselves and others as well if we focus on our blessings. Jesus Christ taught us how to pray and live. Let us obey his words and thank him for our blessings.

Latin American Christmas at the Tabernacle

Luz de las Naciones: Ven a mi casa esta Navidad, a celebration of the rich traditions of Latin America at the Tabernacle at Temple Square, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, December 5, 6, and 7 at 7:30 p.m. or a matinee performance on Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m. Tabernacle doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for evening performances. For seating or information call 801-249-6688. Tickets are free of charge and can be obtained online at lds.org/events and at the Conference Center box office by calling 801-570-0080 or 1-866-LDS-TKS.