Lesson for March 25, 2016

Lesson for March 27, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen about talks by Elder Ballard (“God is at the Helm”), Elder Christofferson (“Why the Church”), and Elder Bednar (“Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name”). On this Easter, she reminded us of something President Hinckley said: that there would be no Christmas if there had been no Easter. Our lesson today is about the Lord’s church as it is organized based on how the Church at Christ’s time was established. He taught us that it should bear His name and be based on apostles and evangelists. She invited us to share our thoughts. Her nephew drew a clipper ship on a poster for Kristine to use as an object lesson. She says the fastest growing segment of religious people is people who say they believe in God and they feel they can go it alone. However Elder Bednar said that the Church is to strengthen and edify those in the Church and we are the members of the body of Christ. One of the blessings is to have a community to join. When we think of serving together and praying together, we bond and unite. The Lord wants us to bear one another’s burdens, so we need someone we trust to go through with these things. Claudia Laycock said she knows a young woman who recently moved to Tennessee and instantly had a family in her new ward. It causes you to learn to like and love others who you never would have sought out otherwise. It enriches your life in ways you never would have known. What a blessing it is to have people we can talk about religion with. It is so nice to have friends who are like us. It is good to see other families and see examples whom we can look up to. Elder Ballard introduced us to the concept of the old ship Zion, and to hold on and not jump ship. He gives four things to hold on to. (1) Prophets and apostles, we need to see the extraordinary things they do in spite of their humanity. Elder Bednar said it is good we have older men in positions of authority who are spiritually seasoned and wise to guide us. The mortal limitations of these men actually show the divine object of God in calling these men, so the Lord is blessing and sustaining them. Elder Hales said when you can’t do everything, you do what matters. Sisters brought up the Proclamation on the Family and knowing they were emphasizing good things rather than telling people they are bad. Also, admonitions to love one another. Also we need to see the potential in people—just love them—no matter what path they should be on. We don’t need to fear the future; the future is as bright as our faith. These prophets and apostles give us the means to have personal revelation in General Conference. (2) We have the Plan of Salvation. (3) We have a voice of warning. It is a blessing to be reproved and shown our faults. Repentance is individual, but fellowship on that painful path comes from the Church. (4) They teach us to keep the commandments. (5) We can make covenants and ordinances. Families can qualify for eternal life through covenants. The Church does not supplant the family. (6) We also get the gift of the Holy Ghost. We do not become converted to the Church, but to the gospel, and the Church strengthens us. The size of the Church and the organization is to work together with the families to strengthen us. We all benefit because we share our talents and service. Because the Church is as big as it is, we can help the poor and send supplies to disaster areas. We can build buildings and temples. We can take the gospel to the world. The goal of the Church is to establish Zion and prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. The Prophets and Apostles are the officers of the ship and we are the crew and the Lord is the guidance system. If we stay on the ship we will arrive at our destination.