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.