Lesson for February 23, 2014

Our lesson today was given by Kristine Hansen. Our lesson was part of the Teachings for our Times about Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk, “Like a Broken Vessel.” She asked a question about depression and if we’ve gone through it or our loved ones. It is a very common thing. She was touched to have Elder Holland focus on emotional and mental illness. It is nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. There are many ways to respond. Often setbacks and people recover from it. We can assure them that we will work with them. Sometimes in our culture, we think that depression is a character flaw. Elder Holland introduced the topic by saying everyone is downcast at some time or other. Real depression is a crater in the mind so deep they can’t crawl out. He also suffered from depression when he was a young father. He got through it because of friends and family. Some great people have suffered from depression, including Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and George Albert Smith. Emily Campbell had post baby depression and learned how to get through it. Elder Holland said to never lose faith in your Father in Heaven. Look for help from spiritual leaders and believe in miracles. Trust in better days to come. Be careful about diet and exercise. Some food allergies can cause emotional illness. Sleep enough, but not too much. Get yourself on a good schedule. Have a project. Do service to others. Friends are important—besides family or the spouse. Just hearing their voices can be uplifting. Look for the light any time you can. Feel the sun on your face. Some depression is affected by the dark days of winter. Perhaps the most important thing is to develop relationships with other people. Remember that we are the Relief Society and our job is to bring relief. We can also get out of the home. It helps to have a support group. There is no shame in going to a therapist. If you had appendicitis you would go to a doctor. Prayerfully assess the solutions. You need to set little goals so they aren’t overwhelming—like cleaning the kitchen sink. Praying is the best therapy. Laughter is the best therapy. You have to try lots of things, because not everyone is the same and responds the same way. It is up to us to reach out. Ask people truly intending to be interested and be helpful. The right medication is helpful, although self-medication is not the answer. Knowing what the resources are is very important. Elder Holland said we need to be compassionate with ourselves and with others. We need to know that the great physician is God. Let go and let God take care of you. He testified of the resurrection that will raise weakness into power.