Lesson for October 1

Lesson for October 16, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18 “We Believe in Being Honest” and Chapter 19 “Our Commitment to God.” Maggie talked about the commonalities between the chapters. We discussed integrity, which is being whole, doing what you know is right, being the same in private and in public, having a consistent character, and being honest and fair (number one definition). When you teach your children when they are small, they carry it with them the rest of their lives. President Hunter told about a young man who had a series of speeding tickets and was almost arrested, which would keep him from serving a mission. That scared him and he straightened up. Adele Hickman, returned some crystal goblets that came to her by mistake and the clerk said she was stupid for not keeping them, which was not what Adele wanted her children to hear. Later she returned some milk she had not paid for by accident and the store manager came out to meet her because she was honest. Others told stories about how they had returned things because their religion motivates their lives. Heather Cantrell told about how when she did, the clerk said she knew Heather would do that because she was a Mormon. We discussed how that works in our lives. It’s something we may not think about, but just something we do. We might think about our motivation for what we do and say to others. This is important in marriage, so we don’t develop habits that would betray each other. President Hunter said honesty can help our relationships. In a fireside for young people, he said a happy life will come to us if we are honest with our family, bishop, work, friends, and school. Chelsea Jolley said one of her children learned that he got more leniency because he would tell the truth and make his own boundaries that would benefit his life. It’s easier because he can be trusted. Andrea said she would take her siblings Halloween candy until she took some that were not candy and nearly broke her tooth. She told her sister and it helped their relationship. She got over her pride and got closer to her sister. Sister Dibb said that when we are honest about big and little things, our lives are blessed and we have better relationships based on trust. We want physical things to have structural integrity that keep them from failing. Chapter 19 talks about commitment, which requires integrity of character to keep us functioning. That kind of integrity is what God requires of us. We should do what we commit to do. Be that person who can be counted on and be trusted. Rachel Hickman ___ said that integrity includes being sincere and dependable, even when we make mistakes and own them. She said about her mother that there were several people at their house. Rachel said she was punished for something she hadn’t done. Her mother came to her and apologized, so she said she needs to apologize when she is wrong. We are human and we will make mistakes, so we need to own them. Our children will trust us more as parents if we tell them we are sorry for something. One mother said her children have the reputation at school that they will do what they are told and can be trusted. The mother is on a committee at the school and the family’s integrity has had a downstream effect on the other school children and families. Adele told about when her children played lacrosse in a championship game. The coach told the referee when they had one extra player on the field when they made a winning goal. They replayed and the team lost, but the coach had set a good example. What has happened when we have seen Christlike people? They are compassionate to those around them, no matter who it is. Service is a good mantra for compassionate people. In our morning prayers, if we pray to be of service, we need to have our shoes on and dressed and ready to be of service. God wants us to be honest with Him in our dealings with him. When we are honest to our children, they can be honest with us. One of a sister’s Primary teachers told her that she should feel like Jesus is beside us at all times. If you can be that person whom everybody trusts, you can be that person who can serve others, because others feel they can come to you. Think about your commitment to being an honest person with integrity.