Lesson for December 11, 2016

Lesson for December 11, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp about Howard W. Hunter’s “No Less Serviceable” in ch. 23 and “Following the Example of Jesus Christ” in ch. 24. Maggie went to a leadership seminar at her work and had to read a biography about someone and some chose President Hinckley and about Winston Churchill. Dorothy Francis chose John Adams. Others read about the Wright Brothers, and other leaders and innovators. President Hunter liked to read about Moroni. Then Helaman and his brothers were no less serviceable to the Church than Moroni. Not all of us are going to be like Moroni, but we will be no less serviceable as members of God’s army. Some people may not be talked about as much in the scriptures, like Gideon and Abish, but they did great service. At Christmas time, Joseph is mentioned more than he usually was, but he would have been a wonderful man to be the father figure to Jesus. Zeezrom repented and taught the Nephites to be righteous. When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple at eight days, there were two older people who had been promised they would see Him. President Hunter also mentioned Sariah and others in Church history that many do not remember. Maybe a teacher or a visiting teacher or someone who was kind to you. How do we honor the small acts of service that are done for us? We can do for others what others have done for us. Follow the promptings of the Spirit. Adele Hickman said the Spirit told her to say thank you to the cleaning lady cleaning a bathroom and the woman was shocked, but looked grateful. Sometimes we feel our service is not the most important, but when we understand what it means to serve, we don’t have to worry about where we serve. It is important for us to thank others and help them feel appreciated and needed. In ch. 24 we can focus on how Jesus Christ is a great example for us as we go about our daily lives. The Church initiative to light up the world, there are so many stories of how to do service and teach and love the children. Each particular attribute of Christ gives us opportunities to serve. For example, when Christ spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He showed us how to speak to someone outside our comfort zone. Dorothy Francis said she is motivated by the scripture about doing good to the least of these and it is like serving Jesus. President Hunter said we should follow what Jesus would do to the extent that our mortal powers exist. We would ask ourselves what Jesus would do and then have courage. One sister said she comforted a girl in her class who got a phone call saying that her grandfather had died and it turned out to be a good thing. Maggie said she has been doing some research for an exhibit. Jeannie Hughes was the example for the character in Middlemarch by George Eliot. She had an unhappy marriage, but decided to use her faith and be like her Savior and do good to others and do fundraising for orphaned young women. She was asked by the government to do a report of young women and their conditions. She had to take care of invalid parents, opposition, and she had cancer, but she tried to be of service to others in spite of those obstacles. Emily Campbell said she feels like she is not so special that hard things can’t happen to her. We all get trials and even if we’re busy, we can focus on our Savior and His example, we can find those people who need our help. We also need confidence to know we can follow the Spirit and know we can overcome rejection or awkwardness to reach out to help someone. And if it doesn’t work, we have a funny story to tell. Maggie has a high school friend whose family does a huge service project every Christmas and it’s become a lovely tradition. The Savior isn’t here and we are His hands on earth. If we don’t take advantage of the promptings we get, we may lose out on other promptings. If you really believe the Lord will help you do it, He will help you and you can accomplish hard things. Remember that the Spirit is with you had will help to guide you, like Captain Moroni was. We may have opportunities that you were not aware of before.

Lesson for December 4, 2016

Lesson for December 4, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber of the Relief Society presidency. She taught us about Enabling Power of The Atonement. We know about the redeeming power of the Atonement, but not about the enabling power. We understand that the Atonement is for sinners, but it is also for members and saints. Andrea read from the Lorenzo Snow manual about how Latter-day Saints are entitled to the power of the Atonement and supernatural aid when we can not do what we need to do. When we have the assistance of the Almighty when we need saving on a daily basis. If we try to do everything on our own, we will fail We need to take advantage of the grace of God, which Pres. Snow calls spiritual aid. We can receive strength and assistance beyond our strength. Elder Bednar said his wife had morning sickness all pregnancy with every one and yet she was given extra strength to survive and bring those children into the world. He said it was like the pioneers who had to rely on the Lord many, many times. Andrea said when she had to go to visit an inactive sister, she was scared. She prayed that she would be able to communicate her love to this sister. It went so well and she felt She learned that the Lord can make her the right person. Emily Campbell said she feels like she was carried and lifted during the hard times while her children were so sick and she was faced with so many troubles. Dorothy Francis said her son was blessed during a calling so his time would expand and it was. Sister Freytag said when she was called to be Young Women president, she felt overwhelmed. But so many people came forward and helped her. She was given extra strength. We often feel inadequate, but we do things beyond our strength and ability. The Lord works with us and brings us up to speed. Sometimes He can take our pain or our grief for a time so we can rest. Gerald Lund said we are like a powerhouse on a river that relies on the river to generate the power that flows out of the powerhouse. An effort in our lives to remove the blockades to the river that goes through our personal powerhouse can result in the river moving freely through our powerhouse. We do not have to crank the generators by hand if we allow the Spirit of the Lord to flow through us. We can ask what to pray for. Once we are one with God we won’t ask anything. How do we get this help? We have to ask for it. Remember the scripture about submitting cheerfully and gain power. We have to go to work and do what we are supposed to do and then pray for help and the Lord can make up deficits. We need to be humble enough to ask for help and acknowledge we need the help of the Lord. We need to believe that God will help. All blessings are predicated on the law, but if you don’t study the scriptures, you don’t know what blessings you are entitled to. Some things that open the river channel are obedience and commitment to gospel principles. When we understand the enabling power of the Atonement, we will know that through faith in the Atonement of Christ we can do all things and be healed of all things. Elder Holland talked about the scripture to not let our hearts be troubled and not be afraid. It must wound God to have us not trust in Him, so learn more and take Heavenly Father at His word.

Lesson for November 27, 2016

Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen about Teachings for Our Times, “Come Follow Me by Practising Christian Love and Service,” a talk given by Elder Robert D Hales. Kristine said Elder Hales said to practice service in our families. He talked about Eli Wezel, a holocaust survivor who had his little grandson visit him in the hospital and said, “Grandpa, would you hurt less if I loved you more?” Elder Hales said that if we love more, especially if we love our Heavenly Father more, we would hurt less. We were divided into 6 groups to discuss Elder Hales’s talk and each group talked about one idea from the talk. 1. Support each other on our mortal journey. 2. Teach each other the doctrine of the gospel. We can share the gospel by being who we are and find the teachable moment just through living the gospel. You don’t have to be a professional teacher or a scriptorian. Just be an example. Although if you don’t know the doctrine, it would be hard to be that example. 3. Always hold scripture study, family prayer, and family council. Cover your family with a spiritual blanket to comfort and protect them. Involve the children and let them help with the planning and help them understand the opportunities and limitations for the family. Involve the children with family fasts. Elder Brett ?? told about how his mother read the Book of Mormon to the family each morning and he acknowledged he did not listen. His mother told him that she was promised that if she would read the Book of Mormon to her family every morning, she would not lose them. She looked her son in the eyes and said, “And I will not lose you.” 4. Remember and follow the Holy Ghost. Pray to know how to deal with our family members. Sometimes it is through their own experiences that they will come to know what is true. If you want the Holy Ghost, you need to keep the Holy Ghost with you. 5. Caregivers for family are blessed. Sarah has been taken care of by her sister, who is a Saint. Adele Hickman said her husband broke his leg and she did everything for him. It brought them closer together. Virginia Roundy took care of her mother and do all the things for her that her parents did for her as a baby and as a child. She was not close to her father, but caring for him helped her to love him. Her children came to know her parents and when her son Loren went on his mission, he was able to get ready by giving the lesson to his grandfather. 6. Show forgiveness, kindness and love. One sister had a hard time with her mother-in-law and learned to love her. Claudia Laycock (a judge) said a young man who was under the influence of drugs tried to rape a girl. He was being sentenced and the girl wrote a letter forgiving him and her mother came to Claudia and said they could make a difference in this young man’s life, so don’t send him to prison. Claudia put him on probation and he got help and is doing better.

Lesson for November 20, 2016

Lesson for November 20, 2016 Our lesson today was given by Camille Maynard about “Teaching the Gospel.” Teaching is really about changing the hearts of people. Camille said she usually doesn’t post on social media about political or other things that people feel strongly about, but teaching the gospel is different because we have the testifying influence of the Spirit that can change people’s hearts. In this lesson it seems to be for teachers who teach the youth, but Camille wants us to apply it to ourselves. If you work with children and youth, think about what areas of your life you have influence with these people. Also, when have you been the learner and been influenced by others? Joyce Garner read from the manual about President Hunter. He was one of the last speakers in a conference session. He didn’t have enough time, so he told about when he was a young boy and he was able to see a big bird and a little bird. The big bird thumped its feet on the lawn and pulled out a big worm. Then the big bird got a bug from a tree. The big bird swallowed the bug and flew away to the squawks of the little bird. After a while the little bird tried what the big bird had done. That is what we must do to influence others. We can’t do the learning for them, but we can model things for them. Claudia Laycock said her mother had her children learn how to clean, but a neighbor kicked the kids out and cleaned herself. Claudia’s mother was teaching her children. So now, Claudia knows how to clean. Kristine Hansen remembers hearing President Hunter give this story and it has stuck with her because it is a great way to make a point like the Savior would. Kristine remembers President Hunter changed his speech in stake conference to meet a question by someone. President Hunter said he can visualize the choice spirits of the earth and wonders what the fruit will be from our teaching these choice spirits. Outside of church there are choice spirits and we must gain their confidence and gain their hearts so we can lead them to change and enjoy the gospel. A key point is the difference between changing a mind and changing a heart. The best way to influence someone’s heart is to get into their heart and then you can share what is meaningful to them. So, we need to find what is meaningful to them. There is a more loving way to do things without continually correcting people. President Hunter said how thoughtful, tender, and unselfish is the love our Savior demonstrates. There are ways to be more effective. We can help others feel more confidence in the scriptures. Use the scriptures in your teaching and help our young people have confidence in the truths of the scriptures, that God is interested in them, that you trust in the scriptures to hold the answers to most of life’s problems and be familiar with them so they have confidence in their knowledge. Certain scriptures have helped our sisters, such as seek and ye shall find. We can find comfort in the scriptures. Teach with the Spirit. We can find our own confidence by searching the scriptures and like the big bird, we can show others how. We are not always going to be there for people so they need to know how to learn things from the scriptures themselves. If we are not living righteously, if we are not living with the Spirit, we cannot teach. We need the Spirit in order to teach. Joseph Smith said that we should teach the gospel with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. If we teach with honest and pure conviction. When strong emotion or free flowing tears is not always associated with the Spirit. Such sacred moments may or may not be accompanied by tears. It may be joy or silence. Let it come naturally and honestly so our students can tell when they are feeling the spirit. Always pray so you will have the spirit to teach. Have the students pray that they will have the Spirit and they may get a totally different message, but one they need. The Holy Ghost does the teaching. Sometimes we are only the facilitators. Encourage others seek to find God themselves. They need their own relationship with the Lord. Your students need to have an alliance to the Lord, not a teacher. We will not always be available to these students, so they need their own foundation in Christ and the gospel. When we do this, the Church will be strengthened for generations. We can show that we value our students’ insights. There is a power that comes from showing our own initiative and valuing our students’ initiatives. Like the big bird, it showed the little bird and then took off. We need to let them do it themselves, even if they fail. They will learn how to do it better with experience. Strive to reach individuals—which is a big focus of the Church with so many things, such as ordinances. The Savior did the same with the Nephites as he let each one come to him so they could have their own personal witness. Teaching by example—an example carries such a powerful influence. Being an instrument in the Lord’s hands to help change hearts. President Hunter said that when a teacher performs how the Lord would have them, there is a transformation of the human soul because someone has taught the principles of truth.

Lesson for November 13, 2016

Lesson for November 13, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter #21 on “Faith and Testimony.” Maggie reminded us that we discussed this lesson a couple of weeks ago and President Uchtdorf’s talk about “Fourth Floor, Last Door.” Sister Francis said her parents were stake missionaries and her mother practiced the story of the First Vision in flannel board and Dorothy asked her mother if it was real and she said it was. Sister Hickman’s friend was killed when they were eight. She went to the funeral and was confused when they said they didn’t know where he was, but she did. Maggie said at her grandmother’s house for Fourth of July and Maggie prayed about the gospel and had a peaceful feeling all day. President Hunter said we obtain our testimony in different ways. Alma the Younger got his testimony differently from his father. Paul got his differently from the other apostles. President Hunter said when he took seminar and studied, he said his testimony grew—the one he gained at his mother’s knee. In Alma 32:26-30 is the story about faith and it not being a perfect knowledge. If you will experiment on his words and let the desire work in you. Compare the word as a seed that is a good seed that swells within your breast and as you feel the swelling motions and it sprouts and begins to grow, you will say it is a good seed. This is something we learn from the time we are children. This scripture means that if you give a place for the seed to grow and don’t let our unbelief make us keep digging up the seed to see if it is growing, then it will die. Also, remember it is not a perfect knowledge, you can have faith before that stage of growth—even a small seed can grow. You start out with something and experiment in your life. In missionary work we plant seeds in other people and some of those seeds will grow. Maggie’s grandmother had a banana tree behind her little apartment. Her grandmother worked hard on that banana tree. Zina Diantha Huntington Young said that if you knew there was a diamond buried in a spot, do you not think you would dig in that spot? How would you not dig to know the gospel? If you put the time in for prayer, scripture reading, going to church, feeling promptings and acting on them. It is important to write these things down so it is reinforced in your heart and the Lord knows you are the type of person who will act on the promptings He sends us. Other things that help us develop our faith are keeping up with those we have known and being sensitive to what is happening in their lives. Maggie says that working in the BYU library with people who collect things that have to do with Mormonism. A researcher came to look over the collection of one staff member. He gave a lecture about times people had listened to the spirit and times they hadn’t and, even though he wasn’t a Mormon, it was very spiritual experience to listen to him. Maggie was also a Girl Scout, she made a bottle green house and planted a marigold and she was very proud of it. She planted it outside and it died. She didn’t know about hardening greenhouse plants and how they need to be acclimated before being permanently planted outside. Sometimes our testimony needs to struggle a little so it can grow. We need to write about these experiences so we can remember and have our testimonies strengthened. With that struggle we can grow and if there is no struggle, we grow dormant. As children grow older they ask questions about things that have no tangible truth. They need to know they can develop testimonies through effort and struggle. Our faith looks very different from what it was before the things we have gone through. We cannot be too complacent and think we have no more seeds to plant. One of Maggie’s roommates had a brother who became a missionary and who was certain he was going to be perfect and have lots of converts. He had to deal with people’s agency and it hurt his own testimony. Thinking that you already know everything can be damaging. Sister Jolley said they have lost three family members in a year. Her faith is not altered, but her fear of losing someone else has grown. She’s afraid that the next one she will not be able to handle. She has to decipher her feelings and let that feeling be OK, but she can build on her faith, rather than being paralyzed by fear. She started reading the Book of Mormon again and read about tender mercies and looking for what tender mercies happened in each chapter. She hopes she can find those tender mercies in her own life. Even though she is facing the holidays, she is fearful, but she is trying to see the help while handling the fear. There are always times when things are hard and tough, but we need to keep working on our testimonies so we can nurture our faith. Time is a healer. We can look back and see that we are functioning and have in the past, so that gives us confidence we can do it again. We must follow the course that Heavenly Father has measured out. We must seek to find and ask to receive. Even though it’s hard to persevere. By the little things we can do we can find ways. Sister Hickman had a tender mercy when her granddaughter wanted to listen to a CD of Sister Hickman’s father playing Primary songs. It made Sister Hickman cry and her granddaughter said why are you crying? Sister Hickman said she missed her father. The granddaughter said he was alive in Sister Hickman’s heart and when she dies she will be with him. We have to let each other grow. If we can’t let each other grow and change we can’t survive. Everything changes and we have to let them. Think about the seeds you have planted in your life. Remember that the Lord is there for us as we change and grow.

Lesson for November 6, 2016

Lesson for November 6, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Adele Hickman on “Believing Christ” with quotes from Stephen E. Robinson, Elder J. Devin Cornish of the Seventy, and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Seventy, and C.S. Lewis. Adele started by saying, “Be ye therefore perfect” and pausing. She asked if that made us feel hopeless. Much of this lesson is from the talk by Stephen E. Robinson. He told the story of his daughter Sarah who wanted to buy a bicycle and saved, but did not have enough. If as sinful beings, we might feel hopeless. The amazing thing is that the Atonement works in amazing ways. Brother Robinson told his son to go to his room until he felt like he could do better. Then Brother Robinson forgot him. Michael came out of his room in tears some time later and asked if they could ever be friends again. The answer with Christ and us is “Yes!” He says that though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. We have to be willing to admit that we can sin, but we need to believe that Christ’s Atonement can make us enough to reach the celestial kingdom. If we can teach our children that Heavenly Father always wants us back. Brother Robinson said his wife Janet was called to be Relief Society president after having their fourth child, graduated from college and passed the CPA. She started feeling inadequate and overwhelmed and discouraged about doing it all all the time. She was trying to save herself. She knew that Jesus is an advisor, teacher, and head of the Church, but she was forgetting His role as the Savior. She finally realized that He could save her from herself. Adele said she was living in New York and overwhelmed by everything including when her husband called her to be Young Women’s president. We have to know we can say no. We have to realize we have seasons and when would be an appropriate time to do the things we need to do. Why do we compare ourselves with others? Why is that such a natural instinct? We’re looking for a yardstick to judge our progress, but we need a better yardstick. Elder Cornish said we torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing. We falsely judge our self-worth by the things we do or don’t have and by the opinions of others. If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today. He said we are going to make it. The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Our Heavenly Father intends that we should make it. That’s His plan, His work, and His glory. Elder Gong said this plan was prepared from the foundation of the world. He said that if we don’t deny the power of God, we can be sanctified. We need to become one with Him, like a small bankrupt bank that is merged with a huge successful bank and becomes solvent. As it says in John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Sometimes we are so petrified by our fear, we can feel our Savior’s arms around us and we can trust Him and let him support us, like when Brother Robinson’s daughter was learning to swim and panicked until he told her to trust her. Adele asked us if we can be perfect in some things, such as paying tithing, or never taking a drink. We add those perfections to others as we work on them and know that we can reach perfection.

Lesson for October 1

Lesson for October 16, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18 “We Believe in Being Honest” and Chapter 19 “Our Commitment to God.” Maggie talked about the commonalities between the chapters. We discussed integrity, which is being whole, doing what you know is right, being the same in private and in public, having a consistent character, and being honest and fair (number one definition). When you teach your children when they are small, they carry it with them the rest of their lives. President Hunter told about a young man who had a series of speeding tickets and was almost arrested, which would keep him from serving a mission. That scared him and he straightened up. Adele Hickman, returned some crystal goblets that came to her by mistake and the clerk said she was stupid for not keeping them, which was not what Adele wanted her children to hear. Later she returned some milk she had not paid for by accident and the store manager came out to meet her because she was honest. Others told stories about how they had returned things because their religion motivates their lives. Heather Cantrell told about how when she did, the clerk said she knew Heather would do that because she was a Mormon. We discussed how that works in our lives. It’s something we may not think about, but just something we do. We might think about our motivation for what we do and say to others. This is important in marriage, so we don’t develop habits that would betray each other. President Hunter said honesty can help our relationships. In a fireside for young people, he said a happy life will come to us if we are honest with our family, bishop, work, friends, and school. Chelsea Jolley said one of her children learned that he got more leniency because he would tell the truth and make his own boundaries that would benefit his life. It’s easier because he can be trusted. Andrea said she would take her siblings Halloween candy until she took some that were not candy and nearly broke her tooth. She told her sister and it helped their relationship. She got over her pride and got closer to her sister. Sister Dibb said that when we are honest about big and little things, our lives are blessed and we have better relationships based on trust. We want physical things to have structural integrity that keep them from failing. Chapter 19 talks about commitment, which requires integrity of character to keep us functioning. That kind of integrity is what God requires of us. We should do what we commit to do. Be that person who can be counted on and be trusted. Rachel Hickman ___ said that integrity includes being sincere and dependable, even when we make mistakes and own them. She said about her mother that there were several people at their house. Rachel said she was punished for something she hadn’t done. Her mother came to her and apologized, so she said she needs to apologize when she is wrong. We are human and we will make mistakes, so we need to own them. Our children will trust us more as parents if we tell them we are sorry for something. One mother said her children have the reputation at school that they will do what they are told and can be trusted. The mother is on a committee at the school and the family’s integrity has had a downstream effect on the other school children and families. Adele told about when her children played lacrosse in a championship game. The coach told the referee when they had one extra player on the field when they made a winning goal. They replayed and the team lost, but the coach had set a good example. What has happened when we have seen Christlike people? They are compassionate to those around them, no matter who it is. Service is a good mantra for compassionate people. In our morning prayers, if we pray to be of service, we need to have our shoes on and dressed and ready to be of service. God wants us to be honest with Him in our dealings with him. When we are honest to our children, they can be honest with us. One of a sister’s Primary teachers told her that she should feel like Jesus is beside us at all times. If you can be that person whom everybody trusts, you can be that person who can serve others, because others feel they can come to you. Think about your commitment to being an honest person with integrity.

Lesson for October 1

Lesson for October 16, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18 “We Believe in Being Honest” and Chapter 19 “Our Commitment to God.” Maggie talked about the commonalities between the chapters. We discussed integrity, which is being whole, doing what you know is right, being the same in private and in public, having a consistent character, and being honest and fair (number one definition). When you teach your children when they are small, they carry it with them the rest of their lives. President Hunter told about a young man who had a series of speeding tickets and was almost arrested, which would keep him from serving a mission. That scared him and he straightened up. Adele Hickman, returned some crystal goblets that came to her by mistake and the clerk said she was stupid for not keeping them, which was not what Adele wanted her children to hear. Later she returned some milk she had not paid for by accident and the store manager came out to meet her because she was honest. Others told stories about how they had returned things because their religion motivates their lives. Heather Cantrell told about how when she did, the clerk said she knew Heather would do that because she was a Mormon. We discussed how that works in our lives. It’s something we may not think about, but just something we do. We might think about our motivation for what we do and say to others. This is important in marriage, so we don’t develop habits that would betray each other. President Hunter said honesty can help our relationships. In a fireside for young people, he said a happy life will come to us if we are honest with our family, bishop, work, friends, and school. Chelsea Jolley said one of her children learned that he got more leniency because he would tell the truth and make his own boundaries that would benefit his life. It’s easier because he can be trusted. Andrea said she would take her siblings Halloween candy until she took some that were not candy and nearly broke her tooth. She told her sister and it helped their relationship. She got over her pride and got closer to her sister. Sister Dibb said that when we are honest about big and little things, our lives are blessed and we have better relationships based on trust. We want physical things to have structural integrity that keep them from failing. Chapter 19 talks about commitment, which requires integrity of character to keep us functioning. That kind of integrity is what God requires of us. We should do what we commit to do. Be that person who can be counted on and be trusted. Rachel Hickman ___ said that integrity includes being sincere and dependable, even when we make mistakes and own them. She said about her mother that there were several people at their house. Rachel said she was punished for something she hadn’t done. Her mother came to her and apologized, so she said she needs to apologize when she is wrong. We are human and we will make mistakes, so we need to own them. Our children will trust us more as parents if we tell them we are sorry for something. One mother said her children have the reputation at school that they will do what they are told and can be trusted. The mother is on a committee at the school and the family’s integrity has had a downstream effect on the other school children and families. Adele told about when her children played lacrosse in a championship game. The coach told the referee when they had one extra player on the field when they made a winning goal. They replayed and the team lost, but the coach had set a good example. What has happened when we have seen Christlike people? They are compassionate to those around them, no matter who it is. Service is a good mantra for compassionate people. In our morning prayers, if we pray to be of service, we need to have our shoes on and dressed and ready to be of service. God wants us to be honest with Him in our dealings with him. When we are honest to our children, they can be honest with us. One of a sister’s Primary teachers told her that she should feel like Jesus is beside us at all times. If you can be that person whom everybody trusts, you can be that person who can serve others, because others feel they can come to you. Think about your commitment to being an honest person with integrity.

Lesson for October 1

Lesson for October 16, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18 “We Believe in Being Honest” and Chapter 19 “Our Commitment to God.” Maggie talked about the commonalities between the chapters. We discussed integrity, which is being whole, doing what you know is right, being the same in private and in public, having a consistent character, and being honest and fair (number one definition). When you teach your children when they are small, they carry it with them the rest of their lives. President Hunter told about a young man who had a series of speeding tickets and was almost arrested, which would keep him from serving a mission. That scared him and he straightened up. Adele Hickman, returned some crystal goblets that came to her by mistake and the clerk said she was stupid for not keeping them, which was not what Adele wanted her children to hear. Later she returned some milk she had not paid for by accident and the store manager came out to meet her because she was honest. Others told stories about how they had returned things because their religion motivates their lives. Heather Cantrell told about how when she did, the clerk said she knew Heather would do that because she was a Mormon. We discussed how that works in our lives. It’s something we may not think about, but just something we do. We might think about our motivation for what we do and say to others. This is important in marriage, so we don’t develop habits that would betray each other. President Hunter said honesty can help our relationships. In a fireside for young people, he said a happy life will come to us if we are honest with our family, bishop, work, friends, and school. Chelsea Jolley said one of her children learned that he got more leniency because he would tell the truth and make his own boundaries that would benefit his life. It’s easier because he can be trusted. Andrea said she would take her siblings Halloween candy until she took some that were not candy and nearly broke her tooth. She told her sister and it helped their relationship. She got over her pride and got closer to her sister. Sister Dibb said that when we are honest about big and little things, our lives are blessed and we have better relationships based on trust. We want physical things to have structural integrity that keep them from failing. Chapter 19 talks about commitment, which requires integrity of character to keep us functioning. That kind of integrity is what God requires of us. We should do what we commit to do. Be that person who can be counted on and be trusted. Rachel Hickman ___ said that integrity includes being sincere and dependable, even when we make mistakes and own them. She said about her mother that there were several people at their house. Rachel said she was punished for something she hadn’t done. Her mother came to her and apologized, so she said she needs to apologize when she is wrong. We are human and we will make mistakes, so we need to own them. Our children will trust us more as parents if we tell them we are sorry for something. One mother said her children have the reputation at school that they will do what they are told and can be trusted. The mother is on a committee at the school and the family’s integrity has had a downstream effect on the other school children and families. Adele told about when her children played lacrosse in a championship game. The coach told the referee when they had one extra player on the field when they made a winning goal. They replayed and the team lost, but the coach had set a good example. What has happened when we have seen Christlike people? They are compassionate to those around them, no matter who it is. Service is a good mantra for compassionate people. In our morning prayers, if we pray to be of service, we need to have our shoes on and dressed and ready to be of service. God wants us to be honest with Him in our dealings with him. When we are honest to our children, they can be honest with us. One of a sister’s Primary teachers told her that she should feel like Jesus is beside us at all times. If you can be that person whom everybody trusts, you can be that person who can serve others, because others feel they can come to you. Think about your commitment to being an honest person with integrity.

Lesson for October 30, 2016

Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on President Uchtdorf’s conference talk, “Fourth Floor, Last Door.” She talked about how this talk is about faith and she hoped that the Holy Ghost would help us with sharing about our testimonies about faith. President Uchtdorf used a scripture from the New International Version of the Bible: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews II:1. People who don’t believe, can’t understand that what we believe is not seen when it can’t be seen. We can understand that the earth is round. We have seen the photos by astronauts. We plan for things to happen and we have faith that they will happen. Marilyn Robinson, an author who believes, says it is silly for people to say that God does not exist. It is impossible to empirically say God does not exist. How did we get that faith? Sometimes the faith comes from previous experience, so we build up repeated episodes in our lives, so our faith gets stronger. Young Kai Magistro said in sacrament meeting that he prayed about something, went to church, and someone gave a talk on the very thing he’d prayed about. We believe in experts. We believe in doctors. We believe and have to come to see that everything is not a coincidence. We can come to see that the Lord’s hand is in our lives. Today we had the Primary sacrament meeting and their faith, simple and pure, and it was evident that they believe. We’ve been told by the brethren to keep a journal. Writing things down can become our family scriptures. We can test these things by doing what we are told by our church authorities and see if our lives are better. So, how can we know things? We can pray and feel the answer. When we bear our testimonies. We can understand that knowledge comes to us in ways beyond our senses. We have to read our scriptures and do what we should in the church. When we’re doing these things we feel happier. Alma said we have to make an experiment on our faith, like plant a seed. Everyone’s faith is different, but we can all test the scriptures. Faith is so powerful it can move mountains and divide the seas. President Uchtdorf said there are some things that faith cannot do: you cannot violate someone else’s agency and you can’t force your will on God. Paul said he had a thorn in his flesh and asked God to remove the thorn, but it didn’t happen. Paul was grateful because he learned compassion. President Uchtdorf said we have to learn to act on our faith. Like the Israelites carrying the ark across the river, we have to get our feet wet before the help comes. We have to try it first. Elder Packer told of trying to find a house and he found one, but couldn’t get a confirmation. We have to set foot into the dark. Sometimes we have to work with our agency or the agency of others and not try to inflict our will. It gets harder the older they get. It adds another dimension to our faith. If we raise our children according to God’s plan, we have to let them find out. We have to remember it is not the end, yet. We have eternity. President Uchtdorf said having faith is having trust in God’s wisdom. We should trust in God’s timing, too. He knows better. God loves better than we do. It is not always our job. We should see the blessing in the trial. When Alma the Younger was in a coma for three days, he was thinking of what his father had taught him. President Uchtdorf said that when we are not immediately answered, we need to keep knocking. That is how he met his future wife as a missionary. He put a Book of Mormon in the hands of his future mother-in-law and she used her agency to join the Church. We have to recognize the purpose of prayer. It is not to make God listen or for us to be rewarded. We need to recognize the little bits of progress. Kristine said she sometimes doesn’t get her answers, but she prays for a tender mercy and she is blessed with something that helps her endure. We have to trust. It helps to zoom out and see the bigger picture, like it’s a movie. What would have happened if Frodo turned away from Mount Doom and ran home? Imagine yourself as the heroine of your own movie and you need to just go a little further. As President Uchtdorf said, “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.” Irma Bahr said when she went to the MTC and tried to learn English, she could not make progress. She went to the temple and prayed that no one could understand her, except God. The moment she said that, a little old lady hugged her and loved her and that was what she needed to keep going. How is your faith rewarded through prayer and diligence. Sometimes it takes a lot of time and a little step at a time. God has his own time table and can see the end from the beginning, so we can trust Him. The Holy Ghost can do more than we can. Kristine said she wanted to call her brother to repentance. She went to the temple and the Bible fell open to a verse that said that the servant of the Lord shall not strive with others and to let the Lord move people. President Uchtdorf said to the sisters, “The Lord lives. He knows you and understands you. He will not abandon you.” Persist faithfully and good things will come.

Lesson for October 16, 2016

Lesson for October 16, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18 “We Believe in Being Honest” and Chapter 19 “Our Commitment to God.” Maggie talked about the commonalities between the chapters. We discussed integrity, which is being whole, doing what you know is right, being the same in private and in public, having a consistent character, and being honest and fair (number one definition). When you teach your children when they are small, they carry it with them the rest of their lives. President Hunter told about a young man who had a series of speeding tickets and was almost arrested, which would keep him from serving a mission. That scared him and he straightened up. Adele Hickman, returned some crystal goblets that came to her by mistake and the clerk said she was stupid for not keeping them, which was not what Adele wanted her children to hear. Later she returned some milk she had not paid for by accident and the store manager came out to meet her because she was honest. Others told stories about how they had returned things because their religion motivates their lives. Heather Cantrell told about how when she did, the clerk said she knew Heather would do that because she was a Mormon. We discussed how that works in our lives. It’s something we may not think about, but just something we do. We might think about our motivation for what we do and say to others. This is important in marriage, so we don’t develop habits that would betray each other. President Hunter said honesty can help our relationships. In a fireside for young people, he said a happy life will come to us if we are honest with our family, bishop, work, friends, and school. Chelsea Jolley said one of her children learned that he got more leniency because he would tell the truth and make his own boundaries that would benefit his life. It’s easier because he can be trusted. Andrea said she would take her siblings Halloween candy until she took some that were not candy and nearly broke her tooth. She told her sister and it helped their relationship. She got over her pride and got closer to her sister. Sister Dibb said that when we are honest about big and little things, our lives are blessed and we have better relationships based on trust. We want physical things to have structural integrity that keep them from failing. Chapter 19 talks about commitment, which requires integrity of character to keep us functioning. That kind of integrity is what God requires of us. We should do what we commit to do. Be that person who can be counted on and be trusted. Rachel Hickman ___ said that integrity includes being sincere and dependable, even when we make mistakes and own them. She said about her mother that there were several people at their house. Rachel said she was punished for something she hadn’t done. Her mother came to her and apologized, so she said she needs to apologize when she is wrong. We are human and we will make mistakes, so we need to own them. Our children will trust us more as parents if we tell them we are sorry for something. One mother said her children have the reputation at school that they will do what they are told and can be trusted. The mother is on a committee at the school and the family’s integrity has had a downstream effect on the other school children and families. Adele told about when her children played lacrosse in a championship game. The coach told the referee when they had one extra player on the field when they made a winning goal. They replayed and the team lost, but the coach had set a good example. What has happened when we have seen Christlike people? They are compassionate to those around them, no matter who it is. Service is a good mantra for compassionate people. In our morning prayers, if we pray to be of service, we need to have our shoes on and dressed and ready to be of service. God wants us to be honest with Him in our dealings with him. When we are honest to our children, they can be honest with us. One of a sister’s Primary teachers told her that she should feel like Jesus is beside us at all times. If you can be that person whom everybody trusts, you can be that person who can serve others, because others feel they can come to you. Think about your commitment to being an honest person with integrity.

Lesson for October 16, 2016

Lesson for October 16, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18 “We Believe in Being Honest” and Chapter 19 “Our Commitment to God.” Maggie talked about the commonalities between the chapters. We discussed integrity, which is being whole, doing what you know is right, being the same in private and in public, having a consistent character, and being honest and fair (number one definition). When you teach your children when they are small, they carry it with them the rest of their lives. President Hunter told about a young man who had a series of speeding tickets and was almost arrested, which would keep him from serving a mission. That scared him and he straightened up. Adele Hickman, returned some crystal goblets that came to her by mistake and the clerk said she was stupid for not keeping them, which was not what Adele wanted her children to hear. Later she returned some milk she had not paid for by accident and the store manager came out to meet her because she was honest. Others told stories about how they had returned things because their religion motivates their lives. Heather Cantrell told about how when she did, the clerk said she knew Heather would do that because she was a Mormon. We discussed how that works in our lives. It’s something we may not think about, but just something we do. We might think about our motivation for what we do and say to others. This is important in marriage, so we don’t develop habits that would betray each other. President Hunter said honesty can help our relationships. In a fireside for young people, he said a happy life will come to us if we are honest with our family, bishop, work, friends, and school. Chelsea Jolley said one of her children learned that he got more leniency because he would tell the truth and make his own boundaries that would benefit his life. It’s easier because he can be trusted. Andrea said she would take her siblings Halloween candy until she took some that were not candy and nearly broke her tooth. She told her sister and it helped their relationship. She got over her pride and got closer to her sister. Sister Dibb said that when we are honest about big and little things, our lives are blessed and we have better relationships based on trust. We want physical things to have structural integrity that keep them from failing. Chapter 19 talks about commitment, which requires integrity of character to keep us functioning. That kind of integrity is what God requires of us. We should do what we commit to do. Be that person who can be counted on and be trusted. Rachel Hickman ___ said that integrity includes being sincere and dependable, even when we make mistakes and own them. She said about her mother that there were several people at their house. Rachel said she was punished for something she hadn’t done. Her mother came to her and apologized, so she said she needs to apologize when she is wrong. We are human and we will make mistakes, so we need to own them. Our children will trust us more as parents if we tell them we are sorry for something. One mother said her children have the reputation at school that they will do what they are told and can be trusted. The mother is on a committee at the school and the family’s integrity has had a downstream effect on the other school children and families. Adele told about when her children played lacrosse in a championship game. The coach told the referee when they had one extra player on the field when they made a winning goal. They replayed and the team lost, but the coach had set a good example. What has happened when we have seen Christlike people? They are compassionate to those around them, no matter who it is. Service is a good mantra for compassionate people. In our morning prayers, if we pray to be of service, we need to have our shoes on and dressed and ready to be of service. God wants us to be honest with Him in our dealings with him. When we are honest to our children, they can be honest with us. One of a sister’s Primary teachers told her that she should feel like Jesus is beside us at all times. If you can be that person whom everybody trusts, you can be that person who can serve others, because others feel they can come to you. Think about your commitment to being an honest person with integrity.

Lesson for October 9, 2016

Lesson for October 9, 2016 Today the lesson was given by Suzy Sullivan, our Relief Society president on “Gratitude.” She has been thinking about this topic a lot lately. A Brother Huntington at BYU said that gratitude turns a house into a home and makes sense of our past, and our present, as well as giving sense to our future. Our thoughts influence our lives, so being grateful is a huge influence on our happiness. Suzy said once a friend told her of her blessings and Suzy felt a little jealous. She was angry with herself because she felt like she shouldn’t feel like that. Anti-gratitude feelings can make us unhappy, while gratitude can make us feel happy. Brother Huntington also said in a ten-week study wehre some were asked to include ten things they were grateful for, another group just went about their lives, another group focused on the negative. At the end, they were rated on health and happiness. The gratitude group was happier and had better health and even exercised more by at least 25% more than the other group. Those who kept a gratitude journal had many better aspects of their lives. They didn’t have to change anything, except writing down things to be grateful for. Negative thoughts consume you. If you try to be more positive every day, your day will be better. People who complain a lot are likely to fail, while people who are positive are more likely to succeed. If you give a child four positives to every negative, they will be more likely to change. It gets really simple sometimes to focus on the positive. Alma 37:37 it says that when you rise in the morning, let your thoughts be full of joy. Thinking of one positive thing in the morning can bring in the Spirit. One sister said she had a woman while they lived in Egypt and she found this woman blessing the blender because she said she had a time when she didn’t have one—and the washing machine, and other things. The woman was so happy. Gratitude has a way of making us focus on what is most important. One sister said when she was pregnant during the summer, she experienced gratitude for the first time when there was cold weather. Suzy told of one person who had a house he was not as fine as he wanted. His family went to a family home evening at a neighbor’s house that was large and the neighbor complained that their house was not good enough. So, the man knew he needed to be grateful for what he had and not complain. We need to be happy with what we have. Adele Hickman said a class was told to just make a prayer of gratitude without tacking on needs. Elder Holland said that the success of others does not diminish him, so we need to focus on what is good in our lives. What action should we take to make our lives better. Envy and jealousy are the opposite of love and we all need love every day. If we feel love for others, the darkness of envy and jealousy will leave. Then every day is a joy. When you’re feeling down, the best medicine is serving someone else. The grass is always greener where you water it. If you focus on your blessings, you have more blessings. Even if we say hi to someone, it may light up their day and that might be the only light they have that day. Brother Huntington said to keep a gratitude journal and think on the day and remember what is good. A gratitude tree during the November season was good for one family, where they cut out leaves and wrote things they were grateful for and put them on the tree, was encouraging. Chelsea Jolley said she needs to focus more on the tender mercies in the Book of Mormon. She thinks that if she notices them more in scripture, she can feel them in her life. So, now she tags them in her scriptures and she is noticing more little things in her life that are working out better—especially that it’s the Lord’s plan so it will work. Brother Huntington said to add more thank-yous to your vocabulary. It can work in all areas of your life, even the grocery store or other places. We need to notice more often, even the small things, and people around us will work better and be happier. Joni Trewartha said most people who called her in her job call to complain, and she always ends the call with a thank-you and their attitude changes. When your baby starts learning to talk teaching them words to say thank you and bless you, they become more socially aware and can communicate better. It does make a difference in their success. One sister said her mother was grateful for changing diapers because it meant the children’s little bodies actually work and they are eating enough or drinking enough. It’s also good to write thank you notes. Thank you notes are so rare that they stand out and really bless the recipient. Lisa Anderson writes thank you notes to manufacturers and actually gets them to answer and offer her products to try. A handwritten note is precious and powerful. Heather Cantrell said she gave a thank you note and a box of candy to the firemen who helped her son when he died. They still have that note on their wall. Be thoughtful and live in the blessed moment. Also, give thoughtful prayers and focus on gratitude in your life.

Lesson for Septemer 25, 2016

Lesson for September 25, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen about three conference talks: “Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins” by Elder Bednar; “The Healing Ointment of Forgiveness” by Elder Duncan; and “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home” by President Uchtdorf. President Uchtdorf told of visiting Dresden and the church that was nearly destroyed. After the reunification of Germany, the city decided to rebuild the church, using the blackened stone among new white stones. The scars are a reminder of what happened, but of hope and man’s ability of creating new hope from rubble. How much more capable is our Heavenly Father of making something beautiful out of our hopelessness or despair. No life is so shattered that it cannot be restored. He told of the parable of the lost sheep. All of us are at some point in our lives, the lost sheep. Over the centuries this parable has been seen as a call to bring back the lost sheep. But could it be possible that the parable is about the Savior’s mission to reach out to those who are lost. What do the sheep need to know to be reached out to? Does it need specialized technology or sponsorship? No, the Good Shepherd knows and loves us and he will reach out to us. Perhaps He will reach out to us more than once. There is a catch. We have to want to be rescued. We have to have hope to be able to feel the love that is reaching out to us. Obedience is the life blood of faith. It is by obedience that we gather light to our souls. Sometimes we feel like a piece of iron being hammered into shape, but that iron is our support. Kristine had us look at D&C 93 where it says that intelligence is light and truth and God’s glory is also light and truth and Satan doesn’t have it. If we want to have light and truth, we need to keep the commandments. If we keep them long enough, we will gather enough light and truth to be filled. D&C 130 tells us that whatever light and truth we gather in this life will rise with us in the resurrection. If we gain more of that light and truth in this life, we will have more light and truth in heaven. We could read the scriptures, but if we didn’t keep the commandments we wouldn’t get what we should out of them. Through obedience and diligence through living the gospel. If we know what we should do, but don’t actually do it, we won’t gain what we should. Being a member of the Church is not checking off a check list, but doing what we should by light and truth and becoming the type of person who does those things out of light and truth and love. No matter how dark our world seems, the Lord will seek us out, especially if we signal that we are ready to be healed. Chelsea Jolley said her daughter deals with severe depression and sometimes feels that she is too far down for Heavenly Father to reach. Chelsea said she has to remind her daughter that there have been times when her Heavenly Father has stepped in to help her. A lot of her help has to be when she is ready. If we seek him the Lord will find us. Elder Bednar talked about the process of spiritual rebirth. It takes a lifetime to be spiritually reborn. The ordinances of exaltation and redemption some through channels. If we recognize this, we have the power to be lifted up through the power of the gospel. The baptismal covenant contains having His spirit to be with us, and the initial cleansing, remember Christ, and remembering Him. This ordinance is not enough. We need the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Ghost for the ongoing cleansing of our souls. Members of the Lord’s restored Church can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost that gives us an ongoing cleansing. We will be warned and prompted to repent. But even that is not enough, so we need the sacrament to help us be cleansed every week. If you take it 48 times a year from 8-78 you will take it over 3,000 times. It gives us access to the Lord’s power of Atonement and to be made pure and holy so we can stand spotless before Him in the final day. The act of partaking of the sacrament does not remit sins, but preparing to take it worthily does help us retain a remission of our sins by leading us to repent weekly and have the Spirit of God with us. That is the promise of the sacrament and helps us to retain a remission of our sins, by being worthy to take the sacrament every week. If you keep working at it, you can be clean and ready to enter the presence of God. We should not want to be baptized again to feel renewed, but we should feel it many times in our lives through preparing to take the sacrament. The gift of the Holy Ghost, taking the sacrament, and other ordinances are an interwoven network of events to help us retain a remission of our sins. Elder Duncan’s talk about forgiveness is lovely because we can get rid of burdens of bad feelings toward others, we can retain a remission of our sins because God will forgive us, and others will forgive us. Our families are those we should practice the forgiveness that we are required to give all men. When someone hurts us on purpose, it is so painful for so long. We don’t forgive others for them, we forgive others for ourselves. Elder Duncan said we sometimes can’t forgive because it does not feel like justice. We have to remember that God will forgive and we are required to forgive. One sister’s father said that when someone makes him angry that person is taking up rent in his brain and he says it isn’t worth it to be damaged further by that person. Have you ever see someone more like Heavenly Father sees them by forgiving them. One sister said that one sister companion on her mission needed some forgiveness because they talked and forgave each other and understood that they were not enemies and that they served each other. They are still in contact and their friendship is special. The forgiveness we give to others can redeem them and change their lives. The forgiveness the Lord gives to us can change us. If we seek Him out, the Lord will lift us up on His shoulders and make us who we can be.

Lesson for September 18, 2016

Lesson for September 18, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard on “Preserve and Protect the Family,” chapter 17 in the Teachings of Howard W. Hunter. The Church has the responsibility and authority to preserve and protect the family. The authorities of the church can give us guidance for our goals for our family. The Proclamation on the Family is to the entire world, not just members of the Church. We should treat it as if it is for everyone in the world. The Lord was interested in the family when it instituted Family Home Evening and has been around for a long time, since the time of President Joseph F. Smith. Mondays were designated during the time of President McKay. The Proclamation says that it is the duty of a father and a mother to raise their family in the way of the Lord. For except the Lord build the house, it shall not stand. In seeking after the welfare of the members of the Church, families of all sorts are needful of having home teachers and other support from their congregations. Wherever we are in the world, we can have support from our ward congregations. Parents can be partners in the leadership of their homes to love and protect children. President Hunter talked to the men of the Church about what they should do: the family is ordained of God, the men should lead their families to church, improve the spiritual atmosphere of the home through personal scripture study, honoring their wives, accept their wives as their partners to make decisions. Most of us understand we need home evening or scripture study, but we need to be ready to teach our children to study and pray. We need to get our own spiritual state in order. We need to honor the priesthood and temple covenants, as well as honoring and reverencing motherhood. We should understand it is an honor to be a mother and an honor to be a father. We can help our men to take responsibility for family home evening or scripture study or family prayer. Sometimes our men don’t recognize that there are things they can do, we can remind them. It seems they don’t work that way. One thing we can do to be united, we can plan and talk about things before they happen, if we can. We can decide to have open communication. You can be united in how to come to a decision that works is modeling how to function as a couple for the children. Don’t talk about it in front of the kids, but do it in private. Our homes should be places of prayer, and love, and teaching the gospel. We should not just rely on schools, church, and others to give our children a foundation. President Hunter said that a home is strong and beautiful when we strive to live the gospel in our family circles. Children need to feel secure and safe in their homes, so integrity in the family is essential, as is showing love to each other. What we do in private will come out in public behavior. We can be more relaxed and comfortable if we are secure and not lash out at our family members if we respect them. We can do things together to build relationships through family home evening and build strength in the family. When we are not close to our family, we can use technology to connect, such as Skype or smart phones. Dinners with families is a way to be connected. Afterwards, then games can be played. We can change the focus of FHE from having to learn the gospel to connecting to each other with a touch of gospel lessons thrown in. We need to recognize what is needed for our family, or our spouses. Sometimes the gospel questions come up at random times, such as driving in the car, or after school. Keeping technology distractions away at a time when you can be all together is important. It shows that we place importance on our times together. Family scripture and family prayer are also important. Getting out the scripture packet of the scripture stories can help children relate to the stories and remember the points of the story. Sister Bush has each child be in charge of a day for family prayer and they each say some reason they are grateful for that person before the prayer. Prayers where we mention family members help our children and ourselves know we are prayed for. It helps if our children can hear us praying for them. President Hunter said our homes should be a holy place.

Lesson for September 11, 2016

Lesson for September 11, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 16, “Marriage—An Eternal Partnership.” Maggie reminded us about relationships from last week’s lesson. Some of the qualities with those relationships are that they are long-term (really long term), there is respect, honesty, love, free agency, enjoy being around them, traditions together, you can depend on each other, trust, laughter, sincerity, want to be each other’s friend, generosity, and others to be talked about later. She had some quotes from President Hunter. “It is not good for man or woman to be alone.” Neither can reach eternal blessings without the other. As baptism is necessary to enter the church, so temple marriage is necessary for eternal life. We need to see it as essential because it is central to the gospel. It is a commandment. It will help us become exalted. It takes a man and a woman to be their very best. It takes us both to do it. We have to have a goal to be a celestial person and look forward to being with a person who is celestial, too, and who wouldn’t want to be married to a celestial person. Sometimes we are not the normal happy family. How do we balance out the idea that we may not be the ideal. Lisa Anderson said she has been offered other opportunities, such as serving in the temple as much as she do, so we all have our own paths. We have to find out what those paths are. So many young males have died before adulthood—many more than young females—so they are promised marriage in eternity. Marriage is a learned behavior, according to President Hunter. All the things we listed at first, those are learned behaviors as well. We learn relationship skills, such as saying the right thing to our spouse or teenager. We had to learn how to get over a rejection, or breakup, or other hardships. There is a lot of adjusting and learning to do on a daily basis. Everyone has to work. Sometimes we can make it fun and enjoyable, even with the hard work. If you are a baker, you still need to go through the process of mixing and baking and presenting the baked goods to others. Some people may be better at some things, than others, but we can all work on things. President Hunter spoke of some qualities that are essential: charity and patience, oneness of heart, fidelity, tenderness and respect, attentive listening, and selflessness. Charity and patience is especially difficult. There is a scripture that you can pray for charity and that kind of love can tide us over. Chelsea’s mother is good at this. Her father had an accident with a brain injury while they already had four children. Her mother said she had to remember that her father did not choose to have a brain injury. Her mother’s charity spills over onto her kids. Prayer and being accepting is key. We have to be reciprocal and talk together and get on the same page. It takes work to get together on a day-to-day basis. Maggie had a good friend in California that she could go for months without talking, but it eventually got so where they were not on the same page. Maggie realized she had to keep up the communication to maintain their relationship. One of the great stories is Adam and Eve and how the temptations came when they were not together, but when they were together they could not be tempted. We need to share goals, too, so you can work on them together. Being articulate can help, so being up front in the way couples interact—maybe even more obvious than we think we need to be. Being humble and being OK with your partner doing as well as you can. Being considerate and positive toward each other. Ask each other how each feels loved so we know how to show love to the other one. Wherever we are in our relationships, we need to remember that these relationships make us more celestial. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s easy. It’s still work.

Lesson for August 28, 2016

Lesson for August 28, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on Teachings for Our Times on talks by Elder Stevenson (“Where are the Keys and Authority of the Priesthood”), President Monson (“A Sacred Trust”), and By Elder Rasband (“Standing with the Leaders of the Church”). The theme is being united by priesthood authority and priesthood keys. These were addressed to priesthood and the youth. How do we as women experience the priesthood and priesthood keys and those we associate with who hold the priesthood. Kristine went to Denmark and saw the original Christus, along with the statues of the twelve apostles that are in the church with the Christus. President Kimball and several apostles and seventies went to Copenhagen and had a private showing. President Kimball told the stake president, pointing to the statue of Peter with keys, that he held the real keys and told the stake president to tell everyone in Denmark. He told the caretaker that he worked every day with apostles in stone and today he was in the presence of real apostles. The original keys had disappeared from the earth, so after Joseph Smith began his ministry, he was visited, along with Oliver Cowdery, along the banks of the Susquehannah River by Peter, James, and John. The keys those apostles gave to Joseph and Oliver were for leadership, the gift of the Holy Ghost, giving blessings, organizing the Church, preaching. Before that in the Doctrine and Covenants, they were able to get the keys of baptism, sacrament, and the ministering of angels in the Aaronic Temple. In the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Joseph and his counselors went behind the pulpit and were visited by Jesus Christ, Moses with the gathering of Israel, Elias and the gospel of Abraham and gathering our families for eternity, and Elijah with the sealing keys. The rest of the Christian world does not understanding the existence and necessity for keys. President Monson has all the keys and the apostles have the keys in dormancy. When President Monson dies, the other apostles place their hands on the chosen apostle and activate the all the keys in that person. It’s as if we have a car, but no keys. What keys really mean is the ability to preside, direct, and delegate. President Monson can use these keys to delegate to the other leaders of the Church in an orderly fashion by authority and by revelation so the Church can function. It’s not about age or experience, it’s about order and calling and keys. People who are called to a calling are given the keys to operate in that calling. Not all decisions have to be made by a bishop, but can be made by a father or one who has stewardship over something. President Monson told a story about a WWII pilot who was shot down. He and his crew were in a life raft for three days and rescuers didn’t see them. The young pilot had the priesthood and was impressed to command a rescue ship to pick them up. The ship turned and came to them and picked them up. Chelsea Jolley said her father was in an accident when Chelsea was five. He was on life support and the family was being prepared for his death, but the stake president gave him a blessing that he would have a miraculous recovery. Chelsea’s mother went home and started baking cookies, because everything would be all right. Her father lived for more than twenty more years and was able to work, even though he had some physical problems. Heather Cantrell’s daughter was healed by the power of the priesthood when she nearly died because of heart problems. Elder Rasband asked several questions about standing with the leaders of the Church, such as are we listening to the counsel of the leaders of the Church? Do we accept their counsel? Do we have a testimony of the leaders of the Church? Do we choose to follow their counsel? Do we choose to hold fast to the iron rod? Are we standing with the leaders of the Church? Do we believe they have the keys and represent the Lord? Our leaders include the General Authorities, the stake president, the bishop, and the other leaders in our ward, including both women and men. If we don’t stand with any of these, we’re not standing with the Savior as well as we can. Kristine found that a beloved niece who married a returned missionary is not going to bless her child in the Church because of literature by those disaffected by the Church. Her older sister has a husband who is not in the Church. They have seven children and some have followed her into the Church and some have followed her husband. She was asked to be a Young Women’s president, but thought she would not take the calling because she was not the perfect Mormon woman. She dreamed that the Savior called her to the calling, so she did accept. How can we stand with the Relief Society presidency or the leaders of the Church? Accepting callings is one way. Doing what they ask us to, such as studying the scriptures, going to the temple, doing our visiting teaching, etc. Going the extra mile in small things, such as setting up and tearing down chairs and tables, sitting next to people who are new, not thinking somebody else can do whatever needs to be done. One of the ways is to realize that all the levels of people in the Church are trying to do their best and that we still need to help them without criticism. Not judging is an important principle. Realizing that the Lord guides the Church and will help to qualify those who serve is a good way to operate.

Lesson for AUGUST 14, 2016

Lesson for August 14, 2016 Our lesson today was given by Camille Maynard about President Hunter’s teachings about “The Sacrament and the Lord’s Supper.” Because President Hunter was not baptized until later in his life and was not allowed to pass the sacrament, he had some tender feelings about the sacrament, especially about how the boys who get to pass the sacrament should have the feeling that it is a special experience. He talked about the Passover and how the sacrifice was a lamb without blemish. It represents Christ’s sacrifice and the fact that Christ is the Shepherd. It reminds every generation of the freedom and deliverance of the Hebrews from the Egyptians, as well as spring and the deliverance from winter. It shows that the grave and death have no lasting power over us. Chris Boyadjian told of the process in Europe from Christmas to Easter of participating in the Passover. After eating the bitter herbs and unleavened bread, the lamb is so sweet. It is to teach us that accepting the Savior is sweet. When the Savior instituted the sacrament at the time of the Passover, to show that it was another milestone in His ministry. He said that he who believeth on me shall never hunger and he who believeth on me shall never thirst. His sacrament ties the New Testament to the Old Testament. It was the last Passover Jesus was mortal on this earth and he testified of his purpose, but people were still not able to understand. Finally preparations for the Passover were complete. Jesus taught them a newer and holier meaning of the bread as his body and the wine as his blood and how it is to help them remember Him. It took the old covenant of protection to a new covenant of safety. Now animal sacrifice was not needed because He had made the sacrifice and given them the emblems of his blood and body. We can be safe from addictions and other sorrows through being obedient to our covenants. We are spiritually safe, as well. In the preexistence we had the faith that Jesus would save us and the sacrament shows that we are saved from the finality of death and hell. President Hunter told about his experience during a sacrament meeting. He told of taking the sacrament and feeling like we are serving other as we pass the trays along the rows. He told how Christ’s sacrifice took the place of animal sacrifice. He is a good example of what we should think about when we are taking the sacrament. We can think about if we are putting God above all others. He mentioned the baby that cried, but surely the Lord would not be displeased that a child was participating in the ordinance, although we should try to teach the children before church about how to behave. We are teaching our children that on Sunday that is where they should be. Sometimes in other churches, children are not tolerated. We all have strategies to make being in church more attractive than being outside of church. On lds.org there are stories from members about how they handle church things that we can learn from. Our children learn how to behave from that training.

Lesson for August 7, 2016

Lesson for August 7, 2016 Today was a Relief Society presidency lesson. It was given by Adele Hickman on “Approaching the throne of God with confidence” by Elder Jorg Klebingat. First we had Sister Linda Campbell tell us about her experience doing visiting teaching and how Bishop Roundy told her that if every member did their visiting teaching and home teaching, his burden and bishop would be lighter. Sister Hickman told us about her father and how he was her therapist and friend. He had a PhD in psychology, played the piano, and has a song in the Primary songbook. He was so kind and good that Adele is sure he could approach the throne of God with confidence. Elder Klebingat said that the adversary tries to put as much distance as possible between you and God and that there is no use in trying to do better. It’s a lie that Satan uses to confound us. As long as you allow these lies to chisel away at your soul, you will not live life in a healthy way. There are things we can do to gain spiritual confidence: (1) Take responsibility for your own spiritual wellbeing. Stop making excuses. The Lord knows your circumstances and also if you don’t want to live the gospel. Spiritual confidence grows when you take responsibility for your growth. (2) Take responsibility for your physical wellbeing and start at where you are and then you can increase your strength. You can be more confident if you feel well. (3) Be obedient. Confidence comes when you are obedient. Sister Jolley said when her son was getting ready for his mission, she thought it was genius to send out a self-centered young man to where he has to be 100% obedient and learn something. What a great time for them to learn. Her son learned so much about how much better life is when he was obedient. Sister Hickman said her son Adam played ice hockey and the championship game was on a Sunday. His teammates and their parents all tried to persuade him to play. He decided not to play and when Sister Hickman asked him why, he said “You taught me.” She was so happy. (4) Repent quickly. We get confident when we know we are right with God. Emily Campbell said her kids are learning to repent quickly. Another sister said that happy families and unhappy families fight the same number of times, but the happy families forgive each other quickly. In Dorothy Francis’s family they can say, “Erase, erase” when they say something wrong. Sister Hickman told the story of a family of quail where some fell in the drain on the street and they were able to get all but one out. The one would not cooperate. (5) Become really, really good at forgiving. Spiritual confidence increases when God knows you have no ill feelings toward someone else. Sister Boyadjian said that taking responsibility for your own actions and repenting quickly is like what they ask you to do in therapy. It’s our decision to be better and choose what to do. There are plenty of excuses, but we need to stop being the victim. In the Olympics yesterday in the women’s rugby a woman had cancer, but kept training in spite of her chemotherapy and now she is in the Olympics. (6) Accept your trials as part of mortality. You never know what will happen. Millions are being tested. Don’t feel like you are being punished, but that it’s part of the plan. Partner with God to do well to the end. Some of your experiences with be with you for your life and you need to just do your best to be acceptable before God all the time in spite of your shortcomings. God has planned many experiences for all of us that we signed up for and that will only happen in this life. We need to have an eternal perspective that we agreed. Adele’s son Brent was teaching at University of Chicago and was made bishop and had a family. He found that he had tumors in his sinuses and had to have serious operations. Adele asked him how he could go on. Brent said, “Heavenly Father knew I had these tumors when he made me the bishop.” Our Heavenly Father and His Son love us and put us here to succeed.

Lesson for July 17, 2016

Lesson for July 17, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard on the temple. President Howard W. Hunter preached that the temple should be the symbol of our membership. She said that we have to want to go to the temple. It is a symbol that we have done certain things to get there. President Hunter’s father was not a member until Pres. Hunter was nineteen. When President Hunter was a stake president, on his birthday he was asked to speak to a group in the temple. His parents walked in dressed in white and ready to have their endowments and sealing. He was speechless. Just the building is a symbol that others see. The placement of temples makes it so people can see them all of a sudden. Doing work for others can strengthen our own testimonies. How does going to the temple sustain the leaders of the church, even the local leaders? When we sustain someone, it is a commitment to support them, not just a vote, and it says that we believe in the gospel. We need to be morally clean. We need to treat our family well. We need to be honest in our dealings with others. We need to be a full tithe payer. We need to observe the Word of Wisdom. People who pay tithing and observe the Word of Wisdom usually are faithful about other things as well. Being in the temple is a break from worldly things and even being on the grounds brings us comfort. Even having a temple recommend relieves a lot of worry about things that go on in the world. Living those principles can help us in many areas of life. When we are free and clean from the sins of the world, then going to God’s house shows us what it will be like in the next life. President Hunter dedicated the Bountiful Temple before he died. He said that entering the temple helps us rededicate our lives and receive comfort. Having the temple in our lives can bring us peace and calmness. D&C 3:1 What a glorious thing to go to the temple and what a glorious thing to do temple work for others. Doing the work for the dead brings us blessings as well. Realizing that going with open minds can help us get the inspiration we should be getting. Jessica Lewis made a commitment to go to the temple so many times and had all kinds of problems getting it done, but on the last day, when she had too much to do, the temple workers and her Heavenly Father went to a great deal of trouble to help her go to the temple and get her other things done on time. We will receive blessings if we go to the temple and do our family history. In 1994, on his birthday and the birthday of the Utah Genealogical Society, President Hunter reflected on the great movement toward family history and how so many advancements have taken place that forwards the work. He also mentioned how important it is to work on family history. When we explain the temple to those who do not understand them, then we can perhaps help them to want to do their genealogy. How do you explain it to non-members? Books by the Church can help us explain that doing a person’s work is honoring that person.

Lesson for June 19, 2016

Lesson for July 19, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard on “True Greatness” from Chapter 11 in Teachings of Howard W. Hunter. Camille said she has been working Primary for the last two years, so she doesn’t normally get to see people. What is the world’s definition of greatness? Someone like Donald Trump; someone with education; important job; shows or says they’re accomplished; good looking; fancy car; says they’re the greatest; talented; celebrities. Howard W. Hunter said people who inspired used to be the most admired, but now it is movie stars. There is no lack of great people: inventors, doctors, musicians, artists, architects and those who accomplish great things. But the world’s definition of greatness makes some people unhappy because they are constantly compared to other people. It can be a damaging things because it can make people concentrate on having important jobs. Two minutes on Instagram can make us feel bad about ourselves for 50 different things. Many Latter-day Saints are happily enjoying the joys that life offers, yet many feel they have failed because they aren’t great. Within each of us is a giant of greatness. When there are problems, it is often because people won’t achieve worldly greatness. Adele Hickman said both her grandfathers were great who raised families strong in the gospel and went quietly through life. The things that make us truly great are not big flashy things. We need to have charity for others and for ourselves. In sacrament meeting a story was told about the necessity of treating everyone we come into contact with as someone important for us to get back to our Heavenly Father. How we treat others has a consequence attached. Those who can love the unlovable are truly great. You have to do it for the right reasons, so the rewards are equal to the intent. True greatness is related to loving to yourself and inside, but not in a self-centered way. Whenever we get away from our own concerns and focus on other people, we can gain greater happiness. It’s a series of small things that build up over our lives. True greatness comes from thousands of little deeds and losing our lives for others, even if unnoticed. Howard W. Hunter’s wife suffered from strokes and required constant care, even though he was the prophet. He would do his work in the day and then go straight to see her. He continued to tell her of his love. This care continued for ten years. Even when she got so she did not recognize him, he continued to care for her. Those things that we call extraordinary, we must ask, “What does God expect of us?” Gaining a knowledge of our Father’s family and their needs and the common lot of all mankind can help us know what to do to serve. True greatness in a large part comes through an understanding of who we are. Our self-worth comes from our knowledge of how great our Heavenly Father is. We can be good listeners, loving each other, showing affection to others, showing patience in moments when our patience is thin, even for good reasons. Sometimes we can overthink what we should be doing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t think of what we can do better. The Prophet Joseph Smith often spent part of his days looking for ways to serve others and making others feel worthwhile. The governor of Illinois sent a posse to arrest Joseph Smith. The sheriff became deathly ill and Joseph took the man into his home and nursed him for four days. Taking time to serve others and be there for them can be very important. Having lots of friends in social media is not the most important thing in our lives. Taking care of our families is more important. Telling our Heavenly Father our goals can help us find the circumstances we need to participate in. Sometimes it is strangers who help us or who we help. Sometimes we have to persevere through the hard times. Ways to persevere through difficulties include being persistent in goodness and not letting these things be roadblocks stop us from doing good. Camille had everyone get together in groups to discuss ways to persevere. The final message is that true greatness comes from quiet lives of service through difficulties and good times—sometimes in the midst of suffering and sorrow. Stories of people who come to success quickly, but true greatness is not quick and fast, but consistent work over a long time.

Lesson for June 12, 2016

Lesson for June 12, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp about “The Scriptures: The Most Profitable of All Study.” This lesson is from Chapter 10 from the teachings of President Howard W. Hunter. Maggie started with a presentation about scripture study. President Hunter liked to use scriptures in his conference talks to give examples and a context of the points he made; he had a great love of the scriptures and loved to study them. In the scriptures, there are stories that apply to every single circumstance we encounter. The manuals and church magazines are good, but if we only read those things and not the scriptures, it is not as good. Maggie asked what we do to read scriptures. You can use the online scriptures and make notes and highlight, so no matter what device you use, those personalized things will be there. Some people highlight in their physical scriptures and change copies to highlight different things and see the scriptures in a new light. New sets of scriptures give us the chance to look at things in a new way. Some type up scriptures to open their minds and be able to have the Spirit help them think better. D&C 109:7 says that as all have not faith then study the scriptures and search out of the best books—books that uplift and teach us. Perhaps we don’t have the faith of Moses who was taught all things by God, but we can read our scriptures. Concentrated, focused, and prayerful study will help us get more faith and knowledge. President Hunter said that reading habits vary widely, but to understand requires more than casual reading and studying the scriptures every day. There should be a regular time each day when we can concentrate on the scriptures. Prayer helps our understanding a great deal. The Holy Spirit will guide our study. Whenever we study, most important is that a regular time is set aside for study, even a little time—regularity will help us reap great blessings, no matter the age. Even children have great insights that can enrich the rest of the family. Rather than a set number of pages or chapters is not as good as having a set amount of time. Emily Campbell said that reading in the morning, rather than the evening, is better for her and gives her greater insights. Reading as a family is good, too. Reading to a schedule is good, including seminary study guides and institute manuals. Reading with a pen in your hand while reading scriptures also gives you insights and points. Another idea is a scripture journal, as well as reading a companion’s scriptures to gain insights of the scriptures and the other person. If you need to make adjustments in your scripture study, try out some of these things this week.

Lesson for June 5, 2016

Lesson for June 5, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber of our Relief Society presidency about personal revelation. She said she struggles to get answers for her prayers, at least not clear answers. She was never sure. She feels that not many people discuss the language of the Spirit. She has learned a lot about what the prophets. Her favorite is by Richard G. Scott and acquiring spiritual revelation. The Lord has more for you, no matter where you are in spiritual growth. We need to be grateful for the revelation we have. Every good feeling we have is from the Holy Ghost, even the feelings we get from holding a baby. It is more like a warm light shining in your being. Many people in the Church will not feel the burning in the bosom, but only that light. Joseph Smith said that when you get pure strokes of intuition, that could be revelation. Elder Oaks said it could be inspiring feelings, performances, words, actions. Miracles are not usually the parting of the sea or a burning bush, but the small miracles that happen every day. We may not recognize the Spirit if it comes in common dress. We may feel a call to action because of a good Relief Society lesson or church talk. Praying about something and having it linger in your mind is a type of revelation, even if you fight against it. When we listen to the Spirit and carry out what our feelings are given to us, we respond to the Spirit and gain revelation and trust the answer. We also need to recognize what we have already been given as revelation and not worry that God is not telling us over and over again what we already know. We need to build on that knowledge. That is a confirmation. And sometimes the Spirit just gives us an impression, but that is revelation. As long as you live your life with the Spirit and so you can have the Spirit that you can have personal revelation in your life. We need to teach each other how to recognize the Spirit. The Spirit works differently with each person and you don’t have to have the same type of revelation as someone else does to have revelation. Sometimes you need to just ask and not look for signs. Acting with charity is guided by the Spirit. The Spirit follows humility and forgiveness. We all come from heaven with certain gifts, but the scriptures say to seek after the best gifts. If we act on the inspiration we get, the Lord will bless us with more. We can practice and not give up. The Lord can move a moving target better than he can move a stationary target, so we need to keep moving. Elder Holland told us how to tell the difference between our own thoughts and what we get from the Spirit. If the result was good, it came from the Spirit. If we operate on that premise and practice, we will get the answer we need—maybe not immediately, but we may receive inspiration and learn that what we are already doing and decided the best we could do, will be right. You have to be humble enough and brave enough and act on the inspiration. Some get an intense high when we are doing what is right. We sometimes have to work for our spirituality and that includes actively studying the gospel, going to church, attending the temple, taking care of our bodies, getting rid of critical or negative feelings, and actively doing what is necessary to receive the Spirit. Sometimes you need to be grateful for the type of revelation you receive. Strong emotions, such as anger, greed, pride, fear, exhaustion, and others overcome the effects of the Spirit. We need to remember that the Lord can overcome those. We can choose to not feel those emotions. We can choose to do the things we need to for us to receive revelation. We can choose to turn our lives to the Lord. Sometimes we are being tested to see if we will continue on. The Adversary is a copycat and can copy many feelings, but he cannot copy feelings of peace. Elder Scott said there is no simple formula or technique to gain the Spirit, but the Lord wants us to learn how to be led by the Spirit through our own struggle with the Spirit. It takes work. We cannot learn the language of the Spirit without work. Things you can try is to ask the Lord, study, act on any good idea, try the morning for revelation, fasting, taking care of our bodies, record your impressions so you can reply to the first impressions you are given.

Lesson for May 22, 2016

Lesson for May 22, 2016 Today the lesson was given by Kristine Hansen about “Choice” by President Monson, “Opposition in all Things,” by Dallin Oaks, and “The Holy Ghost,” by Robert Hales. The common thread in these sermons is that when we have the Holy Ghost with us we can make wise choices and deal with opposition. Elder Hales says that we can have this companionship always, if we always remember the Savior, keep the commandments, repent of our sins, partake of the sacrament. President Monson said our choices determine our destiny, we have the gift of agency, and we know that our goal is the celestial kingdom. As we choose Christ we will make the right choices. We have to build up powerful faith and develop courage to defy the consensus. Sometimes you can’t be cool and be righteous. Sometimes the choices are between good, better, and best. We need personal revelation to help us make correct choices about careers, schooling, where we will live, but we need to learn to make correct choices on our own, too, in smaller things. The Lord honors our agency. As long as we have the Spirit with us, then we will get the feelings we need to make correct choices. We need to know how to discern when our choices are good or bad. Start with prayer and use discernment—or righteous judgment. You wouldn’t let a convicted child molester babysit your children. The Holy Ghost has a mission to give us the strength to overcome difficulties, see the good we might not otherwise see, develop our spiritual gifts, give us hope and peace and joy, comfort us, he can confirm that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of our Heavenly Father, give us knowledge, cleanses and sanctifies us, encourages us, and leads us to do good. Elder Oaks reminded us that the purpose of the Earth is to provide a mortal life with choices and opposition as found in 2 Nephi 2. It is ironic that Satan tried to undermine God’s plan and actually facilitated God’s plan. But we wouldn’t grow or progress if we didn’t have those challenges. Kristine’s sister’s husband was laid off and was jobless for two years. They had their food storage and savings, stayed faithful, and the husband looked over and over for jobs. One day a woman gave them some money ($300). They didn’t need it, but soon the car needed repairs. A man in the ward had a shoe repair business and had the Spirit tell him to fix the husband’s shoes. They had a constant feeling of peace and understanding and love in their home. When the husband got a job, that feeling left gradually. As a class, we discussed times when we felt the prompting of the Holy Ghost. Many people shared times when the Holy Ghost helped them know how to take care of children, with jobs, facing opposition, and, as Elder Holland said, not cast away our confidence. The Lord teaches us through our trials. Suzy explained how she decided to go on a mission and Elder Bednar spoke, but instead of paying attention to what he said, she kept thinking of going on a mission. Lana said that she was close to her father and when he passed away and peace stayed with her for over a year, because she feels him right there. The Lord knows what we need and can give us comfort. One sister prayed for comfort when life was hard and one of her old roommates came to visit. Kristine said she moved into a new apartment and didn’t know roommates or her ward. Her roommates left for the weekend and she was broke. She prayed for help and was prompted to go see her aunt. Her uncle paid her for some work she had done for him and she got to visit with her aunt. God eases our burdens, but he will not hurt someone else for our benefit. Through all our mortal lives, the Holy Ghost will consecrate our afflictions for our gain and we will have a stronger testimony on the other side.