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.