Lesson for May 18, 2014

Lesson for May 18, 2014 Our lesson today is about the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, lesson #9. It was given by Maggie Kopp. Today we based the lesson a lot on scriptures and quotes. The law of witnesses has always been followed by the law. Whenever the Lord has established a dispensation, more than one person was present. Linda Campbell said that we need the additional witness to help us know things are true. When Joseph Smith first had the plates, he was not supposed to tell anyone, but the Book of Mormon itself says that other witnesses would bear witness that it is true—as many witnesses as seem good to the Lord. Mary Whitmer was the first woman to have a witness of the plates. Maggie used an article written by Keith Perkins. Mary clothed and fed Joseph Smith and Emma and worked to take care of her family, as well. She was very tired, and one day was approached by a stranger who showed her the gold plates as a reward for her efforts and faithfulness. We also mentioned other women who were witnesses. Of the witnesses, 5 were Mary Whitmer’s sons, 1 was her son-in-law. In the Book of Mormon in the testimony of the Three Witnesses, we learn of the coming of an angel of the Lord who came down to show them the plates. They stated that their testimony is to the world. Claudia Laycock said that legally they covered all the elements that people would want to poke holes at: they saw the plates, they knew what was in them, and they declare their testimony. We know from the article that although most of the witnesses fell away from the Church, none ever denied their testimonies. Lucy Mack Smith said that Joseph came home weeping after the experience because a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He had known of the plates since he was fourteen, but had not been able to tell about them. Now there were others. It is important for those of us now, since we haven’t had this experience, to have these witnesses. Emma was never privileged to witness the gold plates. She was told to not murmur. She did have access to the plates, but she did feel them through the cloth to clean, but she did not peek. She said they were pliable like paper and rustled. She also left the church, but she told her son that she knew they were true. She acted as scribe and Joseph often just took up where he had left off and went on with no problem. She was satisfied that the Book of Mormon was true and that she didn’t need to see the plates. Sometimes we want to save the world and do important things, but what Emma was told she would do is how she helped to build the kingdom of God. So we need to find out where we need to build the kingdom. This new volume of scripture was also to be a witness to the Bible and they should grow together to the condemnation of those who do not believe. Joseph Fielding Smith said that the three witnesses bore a testimony that was true and that the Book of Mormon was translated correctly and those who desire to know can know the truth. If we read it prayerfully and carefully, we can also have a testimony from a daily habit of reading the scriptures and building the habit of keeping the scriptures in our lives. Various sisters told of how they gained their testimonies. Some said it was gradual and some said it was an answer to prayer. We all have an individual personality that God knows and will help us understand these things in the best ways for us.

Lesson for 11 May 2014

Today our lesson was given by Randy Hickman on Mother’s Day, so the ladies would not have to give any lessons today. He said this is a first for him—he has never taught Relief Society. He told of going to a movie and realized he and his wife were the only white people there. He feels somewhat like that. His lesson is about “The Church and Kingdom of God.” If you have smart phones or tablets, the lessons are available. Also available are conference talks back to 1971. So we should use the technology we have to help us with the gospel. In the introduction President Joseph Fielding Smith said, at the age of 89, when he went into a meeting and fell down a flight of stairs and limped around like an old man. His leg was broken in multiple places. The reason for his dedication is that he knows that Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith is the prophet, and he knows it with every fiber of his being. Jeffrey R. Holland said he is more certain that the keys have been restored and the gospel than he is that he was standing there taking to everyone. Brother Hickman said he often wondered where his testimony came from. He believes that spiritual experiences are personal, but he asked if anyone wanted to share. Did anyone have an Alma the Younger or Enos experience. Crystelle Boyadjian said when the missionaries contacted her and then she went to see the prophet speak, she had a huge impression that he was the prophet. We often don’t have one single event, but thousands of little events stacked on each other. Heather Cantrell said she had experience with the devil as she was investigating the Church, and received a blessing and hasn’t had her faith waiver. Brother Hickman is a builder and thinks of a testimony like a brick mason laying bricks. When a brick mason sets up corner poles, they have to be perfectly vertical. He strings a line and slings mud on the brick, and cut a groove down the brick before putting it on the first bricks. He taps it so it’s level. Then he puts the level on the bricks and makes sure it’s really level. After about six or eight courses, he needs to check the mortar and raking the seams between bricks. The more he watches brick masons, he realizes that there is care and skill and patience to make sure each brick is laid just right. In our church, there are at least 60-70,000 bricks on the exterior. If you don’t lay the foundation of your testimony just right it won’t work as well. We will remember the effort it took to build our testimony. One small event after another are necessary to build a durable testimony, like brick on a building. Think of the bricks that built our own testimonies. Heather Cantrell said we also need a firm foundation or the bricks fall down. Brother Hickman said his bishop made him wait 3 months to get the priesthood, then he gave him the stake president as a home teaching companion, and they were to teach the bishop. His bishop was teaching him, laying bricks. Our bishop goes to visit the sick and gives blessings. Jessica Lewis said we are not given experiences just for ourselves, but to bear our testimonies rekindled and passed down. So we need to write them down so we can pass them down. Where are our testimonies and do we write them down? There is no stopping point. Now we’re all aware of where our testimonies come from, we need to write them down, and we also need to share them. President Smith said our service in the church expresses our Lord’s infinite love. It helps others as well as helps others as we serve. He also said that the man in the church who only does what is necessary is not working toward perfection. Sister Boyadjian said to know God you have to do what God does. Service is how we get to the celestial kingdom. Service is unselfishness. Never refuse to serve—President Smith is a prophet. When a presiding officer asks us to do something, we are under covenant to do so. This course brings joy and peace and those who don’t shrivel and die. Brother Hickman was asked to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher and found that he got more out of the lessons than he felt the students did. He thoroughly enjoyed it, although he felt very unprepared. He finds it interesting that service and testimony are intertwined. Something happens to you.

Relief Society activity night on May 20

Join us on May 20 at the Broughs home at 7:00 p.m.

Neighborhood Cleanup May 24

Clean up all your yard debris and get it hauled away.On May 24th starting at 9:00 a.m. have your yard debris at your curbside.

Lesson for May 4, 2014

Lesson for May 4, 2014 Our lesson today was given by Paige Gibson about this past General Conference. She asked for thoughts about conference. Sister Bahr said that if you write down questions and are prepared for them in the conference, you get more out of it. She wrote down ten questions and wrote down inspiration from the talks. She said the experience was incredible. Another sister talked about a talk by President Uchtdorf about being grateful. She feels like she’s always waiting for things, and she needs to be grateful and find joy in her current situation. Another sister went to conference and said the feeling when the prophet comes in is amazing. Just being in that atmosphere is so enriching. Paige showed a video about Jeffrey R. Holland speaking about the blessings of conference and the unique phenomenon General Conferences are. The messages are often just right for each of us. Paige said it is not always what we hear from conference that benefits us, but what we feel and take away with us. She said that we need to apply what we learn, because not applying it is like going to a feast and not eating. Sometimes if it isn’t working, it is because of opposition to what you are doing right. Sometimes we need to change our technique and take it in chunks and discuss how to apply. We have so many ways to incorporate scriptures into our lives with videos and CDs. Another sister listens to them as she gets ready for the day and she’s surprised by how much she remembers from those talks and that it is what she needs at that time. Charlene Brough said her mother keeps conference weekend is her special time. She figured out that if she took notes she remembers better. So Charlene tried to take notes and she remembered much better. She said Elder Bednar’s talk about being yoked with the Savior has helped her a lot. She has had answers to prayers because of his talk. Elder Monson’s talk also inspired her. She loved the poem that said I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight that made me a little too blind, but I never have yet felt a tinge of regret for being a little too kind. Another sister said that the conference talks are not assigned, but she is always amazed that the talks are very appropriate. She knows that President Monson does not know what the talks with be about, but he knows his people and how the Spirit will inspire the speakers to choose just what is needed. Elder Holland said that the speakers work through the Spirit and as they ponder what to talk about they pray and weep and hope. Sister Bush told of an experience in her family where they said they needed to have more discipline in their family. One of her daughters burst into tears and asked if they were going to be beaten with sticks. It led to a great discussion of obedience and discipline and one of the talks was about obedience, so she is going to use it for Family Home Evening. Sister Bahr said she is now having teenager problems, but the talks in General Conference helped her realize that some things are not so important, but some things are. Paige said that the Lord can prompt us to know what applies to our family or our situation. We will often hear things that are not actually said, but that we need. Another sister said that she heard talks about service and it made her feel like she needs to give back and do things for other people. She felt like she is blessed so much and she has so many blessings that she needs to share. Heather Cantrell said she has many fears and phobias. A talk was about overcoming fears and her husband said it is just for her. She got severe chest pains and had to go to the emergency room where she found out it was just a virus. So she feels she was able to be comforted. Paige said she has had personal messages that she has needed. Her greatest blessing is that she gets answers and that the Lord is aware of each one of us and how much we need and loves us.