Lesson for May 1, 2016

Lesson for May 1, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Lana Horrocks as her last time after being released from the Relief Society presidency. Her lesson is on the talks by Elder Oaks and Elder Holland, especially about opposition. She said Elder Oaks said our troubles are tailor made for us. Awe progress by making choices and having the agency that provides alternatives, so there must be opposition. She said she had been praying for the Lord to show her what is most important for her to do and she ended up in a wheelchairs. Lehi taught that there must be opposition in all things and if not there could not be happiness. If the fall had not taken place, Adam and Eve could not have progressed. Joseph Smith was ordained of God to publish the Book of Mormon, but he still had to find a publisher. He had to approach E.B. Grandin twice and was turned down by Grandin and other publishers, too. Finally Grandin relented and said he would publish the book. When Joseph was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, he was told that time would be for his experience. Jeannette said she had a similar experience when she had a stroke and could only read the scriptures. President Monson explained why we have our difficult experiences. He said Heavenly Father knows that we grow through hard experiences. These and other trials present us with the real test of our ability to endure. Sometimes we need to recognize it is God’s plan, not our plan. We need to do what we can when we can and not wait until later to prepare ourselves for what may come. We have to know what we can do and what we need and how much we can endure. Lana asked us what enduring well looks like. She had a friend who died last fall. This woman was full of grace and loveliness and the picture of enduring well. Elder Oaks said there are many things in early Church history that some use in opposition. We need to look at the fruits and know there is opposition in all things and we need to rely on faith. Often it is not a problem with the facts, but it is the faith that is lacking. Lana said last night when the pain got so bad, her husband gave her a blessing that her children will come back to the church and has comforted her. Lana says there are so many blessings. Elder Oaks said our afflictions will be consecrated for our gain. Lana added Elder Holland’s talk about being illuminated by the gospel after affliction. So, opposition is in all things, but with the strength of heaven we can improve and we get credit, even if we don’t always succeed. As women, we always feel beat up because we aren’t good enough. Elder Holland said that the Lord told Joseph Smith that blessings are for those who are obedient AND for those who try to keep them. Elder Holland said we take some solace in the fact that if God were to reward only the perfectly faithful, He wouldn’t have much of a distribution list. The Savior is there to help us repent, fix, and keep going. Our righteous desires are for our good. So one sister was unemployed and couldn’t find a job. She started doing Family Search and so much opened up for her. The first great truth is that God loves us. That assurance gives us the ability to continue. God will never desert us and it is not in His character to do so. We shall emerge better and purer. The Lord has stood by us through many trials. One sister said that going through her morning sickness helped her rely on the Lord. If we give our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, then tomorrow and every other day will be magnificent. Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on. It is the promise of Christ. It is the sanctification part of our trials that we need to work on.