Lesson January 29, 2017

Lesson for January 29, 2017 Today our lesson was given by Lisa Merrill from The Teachings of Gordon B Hinckley chapter three, “Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism.” Lisa said she loves President Hinckley. She remembers a regional conference when she was a missionary when President Hinckley subbed for President Benson. THey were so excited to have a member of the First Presidency there and planned to stand. President Hinckley told everyone to sit down because he did not want attention. His mother often said a happy attitude and smiling countenance can help you over nearly everything. His father said cynics do not contribute and pessimists do not create. So Pres. Hinckley on his mission started every morning by shaking his companion’s hand and say, “It will be a good day.” Then at night, they could say, “It’s been a good day. We’ve done some good.” The main message of the lesson is to be believing, be happy, don’t get discouraged, because things will work out. Elder Richard G. Scott said to be happy when frustration causes despair, we must remember that God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the filth. Overcome evil with good. Joshua said, Choose you this day whom ye shall serve, but for me and y family, we will serve the Lord. The Lord sent us here to be successful. We must deny ourselves of all ungodliness. The plan of happiness can lift and bless those who live it anywhere. When we think about the gospel and the plan of happiness, it is why we are sent here. In our manuals, it says that having a negative attitude can influence everyone. A sister had a roommate who was always cynical and sad, so this sister wanted to say one thing that was good that day and it had a good influence, but if they didn’t do that, the next day was bad. The lesson is that we don’t want to be miserable. Some sisters do suffer from clinical depression or bi-polar and we have to learn to be happy in spite of having to deal with them. You can learn to deal with whatever they have to go through with some routines and sympathy, but know that God is there for you. A quote “Mormons are one of the happiest people on earth.” They know the big picture and can find that happiness. It’s not just natural sometimes. Jesus did not have an easy life, but because he was living righteously, he could see the big picture and was happy. If you can say you are doing your best, you can be like Jesus and be happy. President Hinckley talks about a terrible diet of horrible news, but he asks us to seek out the good so we can turn from the negativism and seek out the good in our land. Let our faith replace our fears. You don’t build out of negativism and cynicism. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Walk with faith. The Lord’s plan is one of happiness. We need to cultivate happiness and optimism. It’s amazing that he said this years ago, but we need it right now. So to incorporate it right now is so important for our salvation. We can take that optimism to the bank. Too many of us live on bad foods, we feel worse. If we eat wrong, we can feel the difference. We can make better decisions. We can accomplish more. One sister’s mom loves social media to keep her in touch with what her young women and family are doing. However, there are many who post negative things and even the positive things can make us envious or sad that we don’t have what they do. Rather than dwell on our problems, we can dwell on our blessings. Lisa said that on December 17, her husband got pneumonia and she thought she had to get ready for visitors and Christmas. She kept thinking that she was the only one who could get her family ready, while she worried about her husband. Christmas came and no one complained. She was not thankful for the problems, but she made a list of her blessings that came through the problems. Her two older boys gave her husband a priesthood blessing and they shoveled the walks. She watched as he spent time with the family, even as he used up his sick leave. Her testimony of prayer was strengthened as she was prompted to ask her siblings for prayers. The next day, her husband was doing so much better. As we’re going through hard times, and we will, we can focus on being grateful for our challenges and the blessings we’ve received. President Hinckley said, “I enjoy these words of Jenkins Lloyd Jones. Anyone who thinks that happiness is normal, will run around shouting they’ve been robbed. . . . Life is like a old time railroad trip fill of side trips, cinders, and interspersed with beauty.” Lisa asked Lisa Anderson to help with the last bit about the children of Israel at the edge of Canaan. Twelve spies tell about what is going on. They came back saying that the land was beautiful, but too strong for Israel take on. Joshua and Caleb said they could. But the other ten said no, so they wandered for forty years and the other ten died Joshua and Caleb lived to enter Canaan. Lisa Anderson said, have faith. It’ll work out. President Hinckley said to make the extra effort and you will know gladness in your heart, but the problems will not last forever. Know God is looking over you. There is so much of the sweet to partake of. The gospel is one of hope and salvation. God said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” His promises will never fail. He will not leave us if we turn to him.

Lesson for January 22, 2017

Lesson for January 22, 2017 Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on President Monson’s speech on “Principles and Promises.” It was given in the priesthood session. Kristine started the lesson by talking about the story of an LDS man who was in the Coast Guard during WWII in the Phillippines and were left to take a landing craft out to his ship that was escaping a Japanese kamikaze attack. He had to climb a rope up to the deck of his ship with a radio strapped to his back. Partway up, he was so tired he thought he would fail and die. He prayed and said he kept the Word of Wisdom and tried to do what was right. He was given strength and got to the deck. He said he was blessed. He gave thanks then and gave thanks throughout his life. In D&C 89 it says it is for the weakest of people. It also says that those who keep these commandments shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint. Other promises that follow from keeping this principle get health, wisdom, knowledge, even hidden knowledge, Reading scriptures, we can get more insights. Also, the destroying angel shall pass by them. So on average, we’ll have a longer and happier life. So the Word of Wisdom has wonderful blessings and when we follow those principles, we can be blessed. What is a principle? Bruce R. McConkie said a principle is doctrine. Some principles are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. What are some of the promises that come from these principles, Kristine asked? Faith, hope, and love give us the power to tap the power of the Atonement--to help us to get through every day, What promises do we have? Claudia Laycock said it gives us an inner peace that can be there in spite of the hardships we go through. Lisa Anderson said the and in the story had confidence in the Lord’s blessings and promises. Joanne said she married into a family of born again Christians and her brother-in-law told a story about his wife as she repented of something, but Christ said He forgets those things that have been repented of. Diana Barker said that membership in God’s church also gives us temple blessings. Lori Freytag said that when she and her family started going to church again, it brought her peace and a grounding point. Joanne said a feeling of cleanliness comes from repentance. Diana said that a friend joined the Church and felt such joy in the gospel. Emily Campbell said the proof is in the acting on the principles and she finds it interesting that people who do not understand these principles feel like it is OK to forget wrongs or sins, but don’t understand the repentance process. She said it is important to meditate or pray and write in journals. Comfort and guidance and priesthood blessings and testimony come from living these principles. We feel connected to the Lord. The Holy Ghost gives us instructions and helps us be an instrument in the hands of God. Kristine said she was going to a conference with a friend and she felt prompted to get her drivers license and ask her friend if she has her drivers license, but Kristine ignored it and her friend almost couldn’t get on the plane. Others told stories of how promptings helped them to help loved ones. It can be a sweet experience we can remember for a long time. If you get a prompting, act on it, even if it doesn’t seem to be important. Then the Lord will trust you to act on promptings. Megan Miller said that her mother always acted and she knew when Megan’s brother fell in a pond. She jumped up and said, “He fell in a pond. I have to go.” He knew his mother would go. Virginia Roundy found out about a sale she needed to go to but it was on Sunday. She fought the temptation to go and a lady her daughter babysat for called the next day and offered her some of that very thing that was needed. Tithing is a very important principle to follow. One sister said she seems to get just the right blessings by paying tithing. Kristine said her niece and husband had trouble paying their tithing. They did pay up all that was owed at the time of tithing settlement and received several blessings, including a new car from her father. Sabbath day observance is a blessing, too. One sister said that when she tried to not focus on school on Sunday and it was good to have her brain have that rest. One sister said her husband turned down a job with Disneyland so he wouldn’t have to work on Sunday. Instead, her husband had to work long hours at another job, but he knew about himself that he wouldn’t break the Sabbath. Sometimes the blessings are not immediate but we have to have patience. A principle that have a lot of promises is fasting. One of the promises is a closeness to the Spirit and good health. Our bodies need a rest from time to time, even if we do feel hungry. Kristine said she feels so good when she is fasting. If we pay our fast offerings, it blesses others. Fasting also helps us to be forgiven of our sins. It boosts our spirituality. Isaiah said it is like a watered garden that keeps giving. Elder Nelson’s recent talk about obedience to divine laws is irrefutable. Blessings are always contingent on following God’s laws. Divine laws must be followed or consequences must be paid. These principles save us from the bonds of sin. Blessings are dependable. Kristine bore her testimony that divine principles bless us.

Lesson for January 15, 2017

Lesson for January 15, 2017 Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard about Gordon B. Hinckley in chapter 2. “An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World.” Camille said that the first section of the lesson is usually about the life of the prophet. She told the following story: “Soon after returning home from his mission to England, Gordon B. Hinckley fulfilled one last assignment from his mission president, Joseph F. Merrill. President Merrill was also a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and he had asked Gordon to make a report to the First Presidency: Presidents Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark Jr., and David O. McKay. Gordon contacted the secretary to the First Presidency and set up an appointment. When Gordon entered the First Presidency’s council room, President Grant and his counselors greeted him warmly. Then President Grant said, “Brother Hinckley, we’ll give you fifteen minutes to tell us what Elder Merrill wants us to hear.” One hour and fifteen minutes later, Gordon left the room. In his allotted fifteen minutes, he had presented his mission president’s concern—that the missionaries needed better printed materials to help them in their work. His short presentation had led to questions from the First Presidency and an hour-long discussion. Having fulfilled this assignment, Gordon felt that “his mission was now truly over, and it was time to move ahead and plan for the future.” He had already graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in English, and he wanted to pursue a graduate degree in journalism at Columbia University in New York City. But a phone call two days after his meeting with the First Presidency changed his plans. The call was from President McKay, who said: “Brother Hinckley, we discussed in the meeting of the Presidency and the Twelve yesterday what we talked about during your interview with us. And we have organized a committee consisting of six members of the Twelve, with Elder Stephen L Richards as chairman, to address the needs you outlined. We would like to invite you to come and work with that committee.” Gordon accepted the invitation and was hired as executive secretary of the newly formed Church Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature Committee. He never went to Columbia University, and he never worked as a journalist to publish the news of the world. Instead, he began a lifelong effort to publish the good news of the gospel. These responsibilities were expanded later, when he served as a General Authority.” Camille asked for ways members can be a light to the world. Answers included public service, missionary work, and being ready to answer questions from people who want to know about the Church. This Church began with the humble prayer of the boy Joseph Smith in the grove of his father’s farm. From that remarkable experience, which we call the First Vision, has grown this work. … It is the very personification of Daniel’s vision of a stone cut out of the mountain without hands rolling forth to fill the whole earth (see Daniel 2:44–45).3 When the Church was organized in 1830 there were but six members [and] only a handful of believers, all residing in a largely unknown village. … Stakes of Zion today flourish in every state of the United States, in every province of Canada, in every state of Mexico, in every nation of Central America and throughout South America. Vira Bahr told about how the Church is growing in all parts of the world, including in Russia and other countries. She sees this as a fulfillment of prophecy. Some of the countries the Church is now in were once thought to be impossible to get into. Others told about how exciting it is to interact with new members who marvel that the gospel has been restored. Members who have been in the Church all their lives often don’t get that perspective. Others spoke about how the Church has grown, but did not die when Joseph Smith died. It was not his church. It is God’s Church. Vira also told about being a missionary on Temple Square and how many people from all parts of the world come to visit. On July 24, 1847, the pioneer company of our people came into [the Salt Lake] valley. An advance group had arrived a day or two earlier. Brigham Young arrived on Saturday. The next day, Sabbath services were held both in the morning and in the afternoon. There was no hall of any kind in which to meet. I suppose that in the blistering heat of that July Sunday they sat on the tongues of their wagons and leaned against the wheels while the Brethren spoke. The season was late, and they were faced with a gargantuan and immediate task if they were to grow seed for the next season. But President Young pleaded with them not to violate the Sabbath then or in the future. The next morning they divided into groups to explore their surroundings. Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and a handful of their associates hiked from their campground. … They climbed a dome-shaped peak, President Young having difficulty because of his recent illness. When the Brethren stood on the summit, they looked over [the] valley to the south of them. It was largely barren, except for the willows and rushes that grew along the streams that carried water from the mountains to the lake. There was no building of any kind, but Brigham Young had said the previous Saturday, “This is the place.” The summit where they stood was named Ensign Peak out of reference to these great prophetic words of Isaiah: “And he [speaking of God] will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly.” (Isa. 5:26.) “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12.) … I think [those Brethren] may also on that occasion have spoken of the building of the temple … in fulfillment of the words of Isaiah: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:2–3.) I marvel at the foresight of that little group. It was both audacious and bold. It was almost unbelievable. Here they were, almost a thousand miles [1,600 kilometers] from the nearest settlement to the east and almost eight hundred miles [1,300 kilometers] from the Pacific Coast. They were in an untried climate. The soil was different from that of the black loam of Illinois and Iowa, where they had most recently lived. They had never raised a crop here. They had never experienced a winter. They had not built a structure of any kind. These prophets, dressed in old, travel-worn clothes, standing in boots they had worn for more than a thousand miles from Nauvoo to this valley, spoke of a millennial vision. They spoke out of a prophetic view of the marvelous destiny of this cause. They came down from the peak that day and went to work to bring reality to their dream. Diana Baker said that learning this about the pioneers helps her, as someone from the Midwest, want to put down roots here. Camille asked the question: What does it mean to be an ensign to the nations? We have the best message that we need to share with the world. Not only we can, but our descendants can. too. President Hinckley said: “Sometimes in our day, as we walk our narrow paths and fill our little niches of responsibility, we lose sight of the grand picture. When I was a small boy, draft horses were common. An important part of the harness was the bridle. On the bridle were blinders, one on each side. They were so placed that the horse could see only straight ahead and not to either side. They were designed to keep him from becoming frightened or distracted and to keep his attention on the road at his feet. Some of us do our work as if we had blinders on our eyes. We see only our own little narrow track. We catch nothing of the broader vision. Ours may be a small responsibility in the Church. It is good to fulfill that responsibility with diligence. And it is also good to know how that responsibility contributes to the great overall program of the growing kingdom of God. My brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.7 Unless the world alters the course of its present trends (and that is not likely); and if, on the other hand, we continue to follow the teachings of the prophets, we shall increasingly become a peculiar and distinctive people of whom the world will take note. For instance, as the integrity of the family crumbles under worldly pressures, our position on the sanctity of the family will become more obvious and even more peculiar in contrast, if we have the faith to maintain that position. As the growing permissive attitude toward sex continues to spread, the doctrine of the Church, as consistently taught for more than a century and a half, will become increasingly singular and even strange to many. As the consumption of alcohol and the abuse of drugs increase each year within the mores of our society, our position, set forth by the Lord more than a century and a half ago, will become more unusual before the world. … As the Sabbath increasingly becomes a day of merchandising and entertainment, those who obey the precept of the law, written by the finger of the Lord on Sinai and reinforced by modern revelation, will appear more unusual. It is not always easy to live in the world and not be a part of it. We cannot live entirely with our own or unto ourselves, nor would we wish to. We must mingle with others. In so doing, we can be gracious. We can be inoffensive. We can avoid any spirit or attitude of self-righteousness. But we can maintain our standards. …” Camille asked why we need to see ourselves in the bigger picture? We need to see ourselves and our roles in the bigger picture and also wonder what part we will play in the next chapter.

Lesson for January 8,2017

Today our lesson was given by Suzy Sullivan, our Relief Society president on a message by the First Presidency on “Change.” Suzy wrote CHANGE on the board. Joan Jensen said it reminds her to repent. Barbara Aldridge said that change is the only constant. Change yourself is another constant that many of us are trying to do, especially to make ourselves better. The path of discipleship is slow and one step at a time. Elder Maxwell said that Jesus said to come to him and he would show us our weaknesses so we can become better. The more you understand Christ the more you understand some of the things you need to do. We can be helped in our individual lives by asking the Lord in prayer. “What Lack I Yet” a talk by ?? who took his text from from Matthew 19:16-22 where Jesus repeated the 10 Commandments, but then told the young man that what he yet lacked, the young man should give all he had to the poor and follow Christ. But the young man had great possessions and went away sorrowing. Giving up all of his possessions was too hard. Sometimes when the Lord tell us to do something, we don’t want to work on that thing and we resist our personalized challenge. Next in the story in Matthew, Jesus said that a rich man should hardly enter heaven.His disciples asked if that is impossible, but Jesus said that all things are possible to God. That it is like a camel getting through the eye of the needle (a gate in Jerusalem where a camel has to kneel down to get through), so a rich man would have to humble himself to be saved. Maybe the one thing you are pushing to the back burner is the one you should work on. With the Lord’s help all things are possible. Start with one thing and that will lead to a shift and then the next thing will lead to another shift. Suzy had some suggestions from an article she read: Start small: repeat a tiny habit daily and don’t ask too much of yourself at once. Focus on repeating the habit daily and don’t worry about how effective you are. Focus on one habit at a time and when it is automatic, then focus on another one. Remove barriers: Have everything you need on hand and keep them readily available. Write down your goals. Get up early. Do what you want to do early in the day. Tell someone else what your goal is. Build new routines around existing ones--trigger new ones with old ones.Some habits can go together. From the New Era magazine some seminary students gave some ways they change habits, including the following: Change one habit. Substitute wholesome things Quit bad habits for the right reasons Ask someone to help Pray for help Write goals and post them somewhere you can see them Stay away from tempting situations Believe in yourself Work, work, work--don’t give up Sometimes you need professional help Set up a reward system You might need to forget yourself and focus on someone else Turn to your bishop or family for more ideas Elder Neal A. Maxwell told us “Jesus Instructs us that we are to come unto Him. However, when we strive to come unto Him, we come to see how He will then make our weaknesses better known to us, sometimes painfully, in order to help us to progress. Christ even promises us that He will make some weaknesses into strengths.” Being accountable to someone else, such as family or using an app on the phone or a calendar where we can write down what we’ve done and feel good about ourselves. Many families are in crisis, so getting professional help is key to finding ways to make lives work better. Remember that sometimes we go through phases where we are strong and some where we need to just survive. Recognizing where we are in this spectrum can help us know what we need to do and know that when we do the best we can, it is enough. Maybe we need to ask for help or not come down on ourselves. Suzy says that when she says her prayers in the morning she makes goals with Heavenly Father and that makes her accountable. Then in the evening she can go to Heavenly Father and ask for help meeting goals the next day or thank Him for helping her that day.

Lesson for January 1, 2017

Lesson for January 1, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on “The Restoration of the Gospel.” from The Teachings of Gordon B, Hinckley, chapter 1. Maggie loves teaching from President Hinckley’s manual because of his optimism. She wants to find optimistic moments in the lessons to uplift us. In 2005 the Church commemorated Joseph Smith’s 200th birthday. President Hinckley said that even before Joseph Smith had his first vision, there was a great deal of light in the world, such as religious fervor and Martin Luther, and the printing press that paved the way for the restoration of the Gospel. For example, even owning a Bible was made easier for people in America. The reformers of the reformation were inspired and brave men and serious about their scripture study. When we have the Gospel, we can see how the need for a reformation and the restoration really took place. In the reformation, people were trying to correct mistaken doctrine. President Hinckley spoke about restoring the keys and doctrines. The following are some quotes and comments from the class. “In this divine revelation [the First Vision] there was reaffirmed beyond doubt the reality of the literal Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This knowledge of Deity, hidden from the world for centuries, was the first and great thing which God revealed to His chosen servant.” “The Book of Mormon has come forth by the gift and power of God. It speaks as a voice from the dust in testimony of the Son of God. It speaks of His birth, of His ministry, of His Crucifixion and Resurrection, and of His appearance to the righteous in the land Bountiful on the American continent. It is a tangible thing that can be handled, that can be read, that can be tested. It carries within its covers a promise of its divine origin. Millions now have put it to the test and found it to be a true and sacred record.” It is a testimony of the truth of the Bible and it perfectly aligns with the Bible. We get a record of Christ coming to this continent. He did come and visit the people here in the flesh and taught them. Think about the Bible and Book of Mormon as two lenses of a pair of glasses that are necessary to see the gospel clearly. “Under the doctrine of the Restoration, baptism is for the remission of one’s individual and personal sins. It becomes a covenant between God and man. It is performed at the age of accountability, when people are old enough to recognize right from wrong.” “I go on to mention another revealed truth. We are told that God is no respecter of persons, and yet, in no other church of which I am aware, is provision made for those beyond the veil of death to receive every blessing which is afforded the living. The great doctrine of salvation for the dead is unique to this Church. … The dead are given the same opportunity as the living. Again, what a glorious and wonderful provision the Almighty has made through His revelation to His Prophet.” We get the opportunity to listen to General Conference and learn of modern revelation and that it directs the Church. It lets us know the possibility for revelation in our own lives and how we should see for it in our lives. A talk by President Oaks says the two books go together. “The eternal nature of man has been revealed. We are sons and daughters of God. God is the Father of our spirits. We lived before we came here. We had personality. We were born into this life under a divine plan. We are here to test our worthiness, acting in the agency which God has given to us. When we die we shall go on living. Our eternal life is comprised of three phases: one, our premortal existence; two, our mortal existence; and three, our postmortal existence. In death we die to this world and step through the veil into the sphere we are worthy to enter. This, again, is a unique, singular, and precious doctrine of this Church which has come through revelation.” What a comfort comes from knowing that we will have our complete families in the hereafter. Also it gives us a more compassionate view of our children’s faults that are not a manifestation of original sin that needs to be beaten out of them, but that individuals must learn, including making mistakes and God is no respecter of persons. “With prayer and anxious seeking of the will of the Lord, we testify that direction is received, that revelation comes, and that the Lord blesses His Church as it moves on its path of destiny.” Some mentioned that they have been reassured from time to time that the gospel and its doctrines are familiar. “The eternal nature of man has been revealed. We are sons and daughters of God. God is the Father of our spirits. We lived before we came here. We had personality. We were born into this life under a divine plan. We are here to test our worthiness, acting in the agency which God has given to us. When we die we shall go on living. Our eternal life is comprised of three phases: one, our premortal existence; two, our mortal existence; and three, our postmortal existence. In death we die to this world and step through the veil into the sphere we are worthy to enter. This, again, is a unique, singular, and precious doctrine of this Church which has come through revelation” God loves His children and speaks to us so many wonderful things that have been restored through continuing revelation to help us on our individual journeys.