Lesson for March 1, 2015

Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen, “Ponder the Path of Thy Feet,” a talk by President Monson. He starts his talk with reminding us why we are here on this earth: to get a body, learn from experience, prove ourselves through keeping the commandments. Because of our agency, we can learn the difference between good and evil and bitter and sweet and that God is here to help us, besides prophets, parents, the Church, and the example of the Son of the Living God. We first must know what the Son is and has done. We need to know enough to be changed. President Monson said it is more important to be like Jesus (walk as He walked) than to walk where He walked. Kristine says some paths where Jesus walked could be called paths of trial, paths of paths of disappointment, paths of sorrow, and paths of pain. President Monson said we all walk these paths through mortal events, our choices, the actions of others, and temptations. How does what Christ went through help us? We can compare our trials to what Jesus has gone through. We can know that this, too, shall pass—and it will. Sometimes we have to endure things and we can, because we know that Jesus did, that His hand is in everything, and he will help us. Sometimes we are given trials so others can step up and do something for us. Nothing builds a bond more than to share a bond with others. In Hebrews it says we have a high priest who has been tried in all things. President Monson said there are also paths of discipline and paths of obedience, paths of love and service, the paths of rescue, the paths of improving talents, the paths of mercy, humility, righteousness, purity, and peace. President Monson said that as we tread on these paths and accept His discipline, He will make something of us. If we want to show where our loyalties lie, we have to be diligent about following Christ. We can’t make someone be what they don’t want to be—they have to choose. We just have to love people and realize the only person we can change is ourselves and not be discouraged. Even if things are not OK, they will become OK. Hopefully we have family and friends to help each other, however, we need to have the strength to carry ourselves and rely on God. We have angels around us. President Monson told about German immigrants in Canada who had been the president of a branch and was a barber near an Army base. He loved to cut the hair of the missionaries. He gave a substantial tithing of about thirty percent of his income. His generous spirit influenced his ward in Canada and he eventually served missions and even died while serving in the temple. We may get off the path, but we have the merciful Atonement to help us back. Walking down these paths is the only way we can reach the heights we look to attain.