Lesson for November 27, 2016

Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen about Teachings for Our Times, “Come Follow Me by Practising Christian Love and Service,” a talk given by Elder Robert D Hales. Kristine said Elder Hales said to practice service in our families. He talked about Eli Wezel, a holocaust survivor who had his little grandson visit him in the hospital and said, “Grandpa, would you hurt less if I loved you more?” Elder Hales said that if we love more, especially if we love our Heavenly Father more, we would hurt less. We were divided into 6 groups to discuss Elder Hales’s talk and each group talked about one idea from the talk. 1. Support each other on our mortal journey. 2. Teach each other the doctrine of the gospel. We can share the gospel by being who we are and find the teachable moment just through living the gospel. You don’t have to be a professional teacher or a scriptorian. Just be an example. Although if you don’t know the doctrine, it would be hard to be that example. 3. Always hold scripture study, family prayer, and family council. Cover your family with a spiritual blanket to comfort and protect them. Involve the children and let them help with the planning and help them understand the opportunities and limitations for the family. Involve the children with family fasts. Elder Brett ?? told about how his mother read the Book of Mormon to the family each morning and he acknowledged he did not listen. His mother told him that she was promised that if she would read the Book of Mormon to her family every morning, she would not lose them. She looked her son in the eyes and said, “And I will not lose you.” 4. Remember and follow the Holy Ghost. Pray to know how to deal with our family members. Sometimes it is through their own experiences that they will come to know what is true. If you want the Holy Ghost, you need to keep the Holy Ghost with you. 5. Caregivers for family are blessed. Sarah has been taken care of by her sister, who is a Saint. Adele Hickman said her husband broke his leg and she did everything for him. It brought them closer together. Virginia Roundy took care of her mother and do all the things for her that her parents did for her as a baby and as a child. She was not close to her father, but caring for him helped her to love him. Her children came to know her parents and when her son Loren went on his mission, he was able to get ready by giving the lesson to his grandfather. 6. Show forgiveness, kindness and love. One sister had a hard time with her mother-in-law and learned to love her. Claudia Laycock (a judge) said a young man who was under the influence of drugs tried to rape a girl. He was being sentenced and the girl wrote a letter forgiving him and her mother came to Claudia and said they could make a difference in this young man’s life, so don’t send him to prison. Claudia put him on probation and he got help and is doing better.