Lesson for November 23, 2014

Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hanson about “Are We Not All Beggars?” (TFOT) by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. She started with a Thanksgiving quiz. Are you planning on giving a nice dinner? Did it cost more than $2.50? Can you turn on the water for a drink? Are your children looking forward to having some time off? Are you over 65 and planning a dinner? If someone gets ill can you take them to a hospital? Can you celebrate free of persecution? Are you safe to stroll around the neighborhood? Can you pay your mortgage or rent? If so, you are doing well and better than many people in the world. Elder Holland quoted Mosiah 4: 16-21 about all of us being beggars and the importance of helping the poor. We all depend on God for all we have. So, we ought to impart of our substance to the poor. We should cease withholding our means because they might have brought their circumstances on themselves. Our job is to help the poor no matter what the circumstances. We obtain a remission of our sins by applying to God, but we retain a remission of our sins by helping the poor. Some reasons people are poor is because of laziness, ignorance, lack of education, being born into poverty, oppressive governments, family obligations (little children, illness, etc.), poor choices, health issues, the agency of others that the poor person has no control of (layoffs, downsizing, general economy, stresses), physical capacity, mental stress, overspending, debt, lack of savings, addictions, divorce, death of a spouse, too high expectations, not a thrifty or frugal mindset, pride, procrastination, lack of charity (there is enough if we would share), sense of entitlement, war, famine, drought, natural disasters, keep up with the Joneses. We are so lucky to have been born into a place where we have opportunities, places to go, and education. The Lord has been very clear in all dispensations that we should help the poor. Like Ruth and Naomi stayed alive by gleaning the leftovers in the field. Jesus would have known first hand what poverty was. He relied on the generosity of others for his sustenance. He said even the foxes have a place to live, but not the Son of Man. Before this dispensation was even one year old, the Saints were ordered to not let the poor suffer. Elder Holland said he is not advocating panhandling, but we must do for ourselves what we can, and when we cannot do for ourselves, then we can ask for help. The formula is to do what we can, like Mother Theresa and the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet. Mother Theresa once told a reporter that her work was about love and not about statistics. Christianity is not a statistical endeavor. What can we do? We can make a difference for one, even if we can’t for all. We can pay tithing, so the outpouring of blessings will come. Jessica Lewis took her kids to Welfare Square and she’s amazed at how much our money does for the poor—how far it is stretched. When we all give a little, it adds up. We need to be generous. Linda Campbell said she doesn’t think she has ever been poor because of sharing with others. Kristine said Jon Huntsman was very poor and wanted to be rich to help others and he does. Joni Trewartha said we need to save for hard times and learn job skills and learn homemaking skills. Kristine said we need to teach our children thrift and frugality. Irma Lopez said she is grateful to know how to cook on very little. If we don’t have money, we have the opportunity to serve others through time and goods. If you give your friendship to someone, it helps someone who is struggling. Network with job leads. Vira said she is careful with where she gives, so she is sure the charities are credible. In President Monson’s biography, it tells about how he came home from a trip to Dresden Germany, he came home in his slippers, because he gave his suit and his shoes and his calculator and his coat and socks. President Monson started a clothing mission. He himself has given up to 10 suits a year to needy members. We may not have a lot of money, but there is something we can do. As we do this, blessings will come into our lives.

Lesson for November 16, 2014

Today our lesson was given by Megan Williams. She first asked us which women in scripture are our heroes. One sister said Esther because of her courage. Kristine Hansen chose Ruth as a person of loyalty and because of her love for her mother-in-law and as an ancestor of our Savior. Barbara Alldredge said she respected the mothers of the stripling warriors. She said to notice that it was mothers, plural and many of them would have been single mot hers, because their husbands had laid down their lives when the Lamanites attacked. Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary, was another one mentioned, because Mary sought her out for support and advice, according to Margaret Cook. Women in our own lives who are important were next. Dorothy Davis’s daughter said her mother’s mother is very kind. Someone knocked over the grandfather clock on Christmas Eve during a family gathering and the grandmother requested that no one get into trouble. The granddaughter said she learned that her grandmother had had a temper earlier in her life and had learned to change in her later life. Charlene Farnworth mentioned her professor who said that the women in the class were highly educated and knew what to do, but Charlene thought of generations of women who were educated in what was necessary to survive and take care of their families. Another sister said her mother is amazingly able to keep it together and her testimony never waivers. She hopes she can be like her mother. Adele Hickman’s husband’s grandmother lived in a soddy that became muddy whenever it rained. She wanted a better home, but the husband thought they couldn’t afford it. She told her husband not to stop her from working toward a better situation and she eventually was able to pay for and build a new house. Peggy Benson was mentioned as a great lady. She was in our ward for years and died a few year ago. Megan William mentioned her Laurel leader, Charlotte Jones. Charlotte was an older lady who seemed like an odd choice to be a Laurel leader, but she was a great influence on the girls and was willing to teach the girls important things. Megan asked why it is important to recognize the difference between men and women and value who we are. Margaret Cook read from the Proclamation on the Family that all people, men and women are created in God’s image. It was mentioned that women can multi-task better than men. Katy Lamb said that as a little girl she wondered why girls could not pass the sacrament and her father said to go ask the bishop. Now she appreciates who men and women can make a whole as a couple. Claudia Laycock has practiced law for thirty years and has come to the conclusion that men and women are very different. We must appreciate the differences. Another sister said we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and have many of His attributes. A quote from D. Todd Christopherson said women bring with them a special moral authority. A quote from Margaret Nadauld said we have enough women with bad qualities, we need women of faith, kindness, and virtue. Megan Williams said that her mother is a tiny, quiet person who has an iron rod for a backbone. Her mother rode her bicycle to work, even at night, for a while to support her family. The power for men and women comes from living like the Savior. There are all types of strong women. Megan asked in what ways have men and women complemented each other. One woman’s mother said she didn’t know what they would do without their father and her father said he didn’t know what they would do without their mother. Another sister said her father and mother help each other because her father is a musician and not concerned with practical things and her mother is very practical. Another quote from the Proclamation said that fathers and mothers should help each other. Chelsea Jolley said her kids have learned to call Dad at night if something happens and not bother Mom. Dad can calm Mom down. However, if they want help cleaning a room, they want their mother. Chelsea said that knowing these things can help children keep a good relationship between parents and children. Irma Lopez said her father was very sweet. Her mother was very opinionated, but she gave her husband respect and authority. Christele Boyadjian said that in each family there is a dynamic that children learn to navigate and it makes each family unique. It depends on the family. There is a difference between submission and strength. Jill Judd said that men and women are different enough to need each other and alike enough to love each other. Each coin has two sides. We need to deal with the fact that we need each other. Megan said she had an experience as a Relief Society president in a singles ward where she had problems that she couldn’t solve. The bishop told her to work with the Elders Quorum president, whom she did not get along with. It was a learning experience for her to learn to work with him. She ended with a quote by Neal A. Maxwell who said that when the final history of mankind is reviewed the real meaning will have come from what is done in homes and not in Congress.