Lesson for December 11, 2016

Lesson for December 11, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp about Howard W. Hunter’s “No Less Serviceable” in ch. 23 and “Following the Example of Jesus Christ” in ch. 24. Maggie went to a leadership seminar at her work and had to read a biography about someone and some chose President Hinckley and about Winston Churchill. Dorothy Francis chose John Adams. Others read about the Wright Brothers, and other leaders and innovators. President Hunter liked to read about Moroni. Then Helaman and his brothers were no less serviceable to the Church than Moroni. Not all of us are going to be like Moroni, but we will be no less serviceable as members of God’s army. Some people may not be talked about as much in the scriptures, like Gideon and Abish, but they did great service. At Christmas time, Joseph is mentioned more than he usually was, but he would have been a wonderful man to be the father figure to Jesus. Zeezrom repented and taught the Nephites to be righteous. When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple at eight days, there were two older people who had been promised they would see Him. President Hunter also mentioned Sariah and others in Church history that many do not remember. Maybe a teacher or a visiting teacher or someone who was kind to you. How do we honor the small acts of service that are done for us? We can do for others what others have done for us. Follow the promptings of the Spirit. Adele Hickman said the Spirit told her to say thank you to the cleaning lady cleaning a bathroom and the woman was shocked, but looked grateful. Sometimes we feel our service is not the most important, but when we understand what it means to serve, we don’t have to worry about where we serve. It is important for us to thank others and help them feel appreciated and needed. In ch. 24 we can focus on how Jesus Christ is a great example for us as we go about our daily lives. The Church initiative to light up the world, there are so many stories of how to do service and teach and love the children. Each particular attribute of Christ gives us opportunities to serve. For example, when Christ spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He showed us how to speak to someone outside our comfort zone. Dorothy Francis said she is motivated by the scripture about doing good to the least of these and it is like serving Jesus. President Hunter said we should follow what Jesus would do to the extent that our mortal powers exist. We would ask ourselves what Jesus would do and then have courage. One sister said she comforted a girl in her class who got a phone call saying that her grandfather had died and it turned out to be a good thing. Maggie said she has been doing some research for an exhibit. Jeannie Hughes was the example for the character in Middlemarch by George Eliot. She had an unhappy marriage, but decided to use her faith and be like her Savior and do good to others and do fundraising for orphaned young women. She was asked by the government to do a report of young women and their conditions. She had to take care of invalid parents, opposition, and she had cancer, but she tried to be of service to others in spite of those obstacles. Emily Campbell said she feels like she is not so special that hard things can’t happen to her. We all get trials and even if we’re busy, we can focus on our Savior and His example, we can find those people who need our help. We also need confidence to know we can follow the Spirit and know we can overcome rejection or awkwardness to reach out to help someone. And if it doesn’t work, we have a funny story to tell. Maggie has a high school friend whose family does a huge service project every Christmas and it’s become a lovely tradition. The Savior isn’t here and we are His hands on earth. If we don’t take advantage of the promptings we get, we may lose out on other promptings. If you really believe the Lord will help you do it, He will help you and you can accomplish hard things. Remember that the Spirit is with you had will help to guide you, like Captain Moroni was. We may have opportunities that you were not aware of before.

Lesson for December 4, 2016

Lesson for December 4, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber of the Relief Society presidency. She taught us about Enabling Power of The Atonement. We know about the redeeming power of the Atonement, but not about the enabling power. We understand that the Atonement is for sinners, but it is also for members and saints. Andrea read from the Lorenzo Snow manual about how Latter-day Saints are entitled to the power of the Atonement and supernatural aid when we can not do what we need to do. When we have the assistance of the Almighty when we need saving on a daily basis. If we try to do everything on our own, we will fail We need to take advantage of the grace of God, which Pres. Snow calls spiritual aid. We can receive strength and assistance beyond our strength. Elder Bednar said his wife had morning sickness all pregnancy with every one and yet she was given extra strength to survive and bring those children into the world. He said it was like the pioneers who had to rely on the Lord many, many times. Andrea said when she had to go to visit an inactive sister, she was scared. She prayed that she would be able to communicate her love to this sister. It went so well and she felt She learned that the Lord can make her the right person. Emily Campbell said she feels like she was carried and lifted during the hard times while her children were so sick and she was faced with so many troubles. Dorothy Francis said her son was blessed during a calling so his time would expand and it was. Sister Freytag said when she was called to be Young Women president, she felt overwhelmed. But so many people came forward and helped her. She was given extra strength. We often feel inadequate, but we do things beyond our strength and ability. The Lord works with us and brings us up to speed. Sometimes He can take our pain or our grief for a time so we can rest. Gerald Lund said we are like a powerhouse on a river that relies on the river to generate the power that flows out of the powerhouse. An effort in our lives to remove the blockades to the river that goes through our personal powerhouse can result in the river moving freely through our powerhouse. We do not have to crank the generators by hand if we allow the Spirit of the Lord to flow through us. We can ask what to pray for. Once we are one with God we won’t ask anything. How do we get this help? We have to ask for it. Remember the scripture about submitting cheerfully and gain power. We have to go to work and do what we are supposed to do and then pray for help and the Lord can make up deficits. We need to be humble enough to ask for help and acknowledge we need the help of the Lord. We need to believe that God will help. All blessings are predicated on the law, but if you don’t study the scriptures, you don’t know what blessings you are entitled to. Some things that open the river channel are obedience and commitment to gospel principles. When we understand the enabling power of the Atonement, we will know that through faith in the Atonement of Christ we can do all things and be healed of all things. Elder Holland talked about the scripture to not let our hearts be troubled and not be afraid. It must wound God to have us not trust in Him, so learn more and take Heavenly Father at His word.