Lesson for June 28, 2015

Lesson for June 28, 2015 Today the lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on “Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom; by Elder Robert D. Hales. Many of our founding fathers and ancestors left their home countries because there was an official religion. The First Amendment to the Constitution is that there shall not be an established church. Because of choice, Americans tend to go to church more than those in countries with established religions. The low commitment in Europe and high commitment in America is that we are the descendants of those who left for religious freedom. Most major religions have lost members, while non-Christian affiliations have grown. Still, 76% of people in the USA do identify with Christians, but not all of them belong to a church. Who do people put their trust in? In the 1970s it was religion. Now it is 4th behind government, military, and police. Elder Hales said that in the premortal world Satan exercised their agency to end their progression. On the other hand, Jesus exercised His agency to keep the commandments and glorify His Father and His Father’s plan. By listening to the Holy Ghost and following His guidance, we are more free because we are more like our Heavenly Father and have more power and are not weighed down by burdens of sin and sorrow. Our agency to choose the right is key to our happiness. In Communist countries the influence of communism is evil and controlling. There are four cornerstones of religious freedom: The freedom to believe; The freedom to share our faith with others; The freedom to form a religious organization; The freedom to live our faith in private and public places. Many people drag their dislike of religion into the political and social words. Kristine told of Senator Kris Kunz of Delaware who went to Africa and worked with Desmond Tutu and with the poor. He went to Harvard for a law degree and also entered divinity school. Many of his friends left him. His roommates moved out. He went to his friends and found that many of them had deep pain from encounters with religious people, so it goes both ways. Bearing our testimonies in love without judgment is a good way to express the love we have. Often our kids don’t accept those who aren’t LDS and those kids feel rejected. The ones who accept them are the ones who are in trouble. Another sister grew up in Cleveland and her parents told her to think before reacting and wonder if what she planned to say would foster those relationships. We need to be sure we are true friends with these people. Heather Cantrell said when she went to BYU she was shunned because she was from South Africa and her country was apartheid. Alan Cherry, a black man, made friends with her and she appreciated his friendship. It is important for us to accept others and their religions and it can strengthen our own testimonies. Elder Hales gave three keys: Become informed about issues that impact us and our church; join with others who are interested in religious freedom; and be good examples. How we live our religion will mean more than what is said about our religion. We are looking at trying times ahead, but we are led by prophets and church leaders who foresee what is going to happen so we can be ready.