Lesson for February 28, 2016

February 28, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on the General Conference talks: “Discovering the Divinity Within” by Sister Wixom, “Behold thy Mother,” by Elder Holland, and “A Plea to My Sisters,” by Elder Nelson. She wrote some thematic statements: (a) We have divinity within us and it can grow; (b) We are the mothers of the human race and have power and influence in life; (c) we can encourage others to understand their divine nature and destiny; (d) we have a responsibility to build the kingdom. What these things mean is that we do not need outside approval and love from the world, since we have it in abundance from God. As we go from child to adult, we focus on ourselves, but it is divine to look for ways to help others and as we mature and grounded in our identities as daughters of God we will want to serve others. We are daughters of God and that’s all that matters—say that over and over. Elder Holland quoted many scriptures that contain the word bear and he made the link from what the Savior does for us to what our mothers do for us no matter the cost. That no love in mortality comes closer to the love of Christ to the love of a mother and her child. Kristine looks at her students at BYU and can see the influence of their mothers. The introduction of righteous young people into the world is the most important thing we can do. She told stories that Elder Holland told. One man who was dying and said that it would be difficult to face Christ, but he feared more that he would meet his mother. Another story was a young man who came home early from his mission because of same-sex attraction. His mother was the one who stood by him until he became reconciled to the Church and he returned to the mission field and finished his mission. He also told of a mother at the Mexico City temple rededication who helped her disabled child participate in the Hosanna shout. One sister calls her mother every morning before she goes to work, just to talk and get the strength. When we are given the stewardship to care for our children, we have to realize they will grow and change. We will miss them when they leave, but there comes a time when we need to turn our children back to the Lord, such as when they go on missions. Linda Campbell’s mother had to struggle with a non-member husband and now Linda recognizes the sacrifice her mother made to bring her up in the Church. Elder Holland said thank you to mothers—you are doing better than you think you are. Elder Nelson said it would be impossible to measure the influence of all women in the Church. He told of President Kimball’s statement that the women of the Church will play a vital role in the winding up scene of the world. President Hinckley said the women of the Church will move the growth of the Church as they flock to the gospel in great numbers. More and more young women are going on missions. Women are anchors in their families as the winds blow people to and fro. Women are turning their hearts to the Lord as they share their testimony about the Church, or even going to the Provo City Center Temple. President Nelson said that to the degree that the women of the Church are different in good ways, we influence the world. Elder Nelson said his wife helped him through a very difficult time when a patient, a baby girl, had died. She told him to learn more so he could help others not die. Elder Nelson said we need to be partners in our families and marriages and provide a unique influence. Attacks against our church are going to increase, so we need to know the gospel so we can have the strength to influence others. We are here to lift an inspire others to do their best and speak up and build our relationships. Kristine wants us to wake up every day and say we’re awesome and then ask our Father in Heaven what we should do.