Lesson for February 26, 2017

Today’s lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on Teachings for our Time and a talk by Carol F. McConkie on “The Soul’s Sincere Desire.” It is about prayer and was given last October. When Kristine was 8 years old her Primary teacher had her class learn the words for the song, “Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.” She says that prayer is one thing that unifies us and Christ also unifies us. He taught us to pray. In prayer, we engage all three members of the Godhead. We pray to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, His Son, with the help of the Holy Ghost. We pray to God the Father and Him Only. He is the only living and true God. Kristine handed out a passage by Elder Talmage on prayer and Christ, said that a person should pray in private when none may intrude. Using wordy passages that are likely to impress are useless. Even the poor in spirit may pray. One who is uplifted can pray. God without our prayers would be God; but we without prayer cannot be admitted to the kingdom of God. So did Christ instruct: “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.” Sister McConkie said we pray through Christ as the Mediator, Advocate, and someone who speaks for you. He is there pleading for you. Kristine also quoted Paradise Lost by Milton and the part when Adam and Eve prayed to God after being cast out of Eden. He tells about when Christ intercedes for Adam and Eve pray and carries their prayers to God and tells about how His death will pay for man’s sins. Kristine says she imagines Christ takes her prayers to God the Father and says, “She is asking for forgiveness and I’ve already paid for her sins, so will you please forgive her?” Sister McConkie said Christ wants us to turn to him so we can be purified and comforted by Him as we pray in His name and try to become like He did. Yesterday we had a Relief Society conference when several sisters told of their many trials and how they have been lifted up through the power of prayer. Their trials were terrible, but they got through them by trusting in the Lord. The Holy Ghost will prompt us to pray for what we need. When we get answers to our prayers, we get help through the power of the Holy Ghost who will prompt us to pray for the right things. We have to tap in the right way. D&C 46:30 says if you are in the Spirit you will align your will with the will of God. 3 Nephi 19: 34 tells of the disciples who were given what to pray for and they didn’t multiply many words. Sister McConkie said President Eyring said he knew best when his desire was to have what God wanted him to desire. When we live in perilous times we should be still and know what God wants for us. Kristine handed out questions for seven different groups and had them discuss prayer. The sisters talked about having humility and realizing that God can help can help us to want to pray. Having a habit of prayer can help us want to pray. Reading our scriptures can help us want to pray. Sometimes knowing what the question is that we need to pray for can help us know what the focus should be and maybe a different way of looking at an issue. We also discussed getting an answer to prayer that we did not want. Sometimes when we get a dead end answer, the question then changes to what it should be if we are open to listening to the Holy Ghost. To pray always is to have a prayer in our heart always, and then we can be in a position to get the answer we should. One sister said she got a prompting to put two pairs of glasses in her temple bag and one pair broke. Her second pair also broke. Then her husband was able to fix them, but she felt blessed that the Holy Ghost had taken care of her that day. The question came up is there a balance between praying always and doing what is needed. The answer was to keep a prayer in the heart If you are in a spiritual desert, then prayer can help you return to a bounty, especially if you ask to know how you got there. Also persevering is important. Sometimes the Savior is standing next to us and praying for us while we go through trials.

Lesson for February 5, 2017

Lesson for February 5, 2017 Today our lesson was given by Megan Miller about Elder Eyring’s talk about the Sabbath. Megan asked us what we are grateful for. Some answers included sunshine, indoor plumbing, family, health, gospel, clean water, mobility, retirement, eyesight, medical care, professionals, a home, heat, glasses, food, temple, cars, music, the Savior, the Holy Ghost, the Prophet, mothers, babies, children, the Atonement, the bishop and the bishop’s wife, transportation, appliances, missionaries, and temples. Elder Eyring said what matters most is our feelings for the giver of our gifts. In D&C 78:19, it says those who are grateful will be made glorious. It is the opposite of entitlement because if you feel you are owed something, you don’t have gratitude. What can we feel gratitude for the Sabbath? It’s a break, it gives us time for family and doing the things of the Lord. If we know our family is doing the same, then we know it is a time when we can meet with family and study the gospel or put it into practice. We can visit with friends and families. Going to the meetings on Sunday is a blessing by being strengthened by the people you love is a way to share each other’s strength and testimony. Even if our Sunday is busy, it is a time that is different from the rest of the week. We can be united with others in the Church. We can get answers for our prayers through other people’s comments, talks, and lessons. It can draw our families together. Elder Eyring said the most important blessing from observing the Sabbath is forgiveness through the sacrament and the feelings we get through the Atonement. How does gratitude help us overcome trouble. Megan read to us the verses of Count Your Many Blessings. Chelsea Jolley’s father got a brain tumor and he was worried that he faced years of dementia and it would be hard on his family, but he went quickly and it was over in two months. Megan said her father-in-law had heart problems over Christmas, the whole family was there and could help. They learned they could be sad and grateful at the same time. We all have moments of feeling low and depressed, but we can change our mood by counting our blessings. We can stay in the moment and we can say we have things to be grateful for and we can see the progress we have made, even if it is small. You can realize that the Lord has always taken care of us and will continue to take care of us. In Mosiah 24:13-15 the righteous people were taken over by the wicked priests of King Noah. The voice of the Lord said to them that their burdens were made light as they submitted their will to him. The Lord can make us cheerful and strong. Both assets are important. One sister said when her husband had to go on a business trip and he gave her a blessing and she was able to see many blessings. Sometimes we get things that happen to us as distractions to help us not dwell on the problems. Emily Campbell said she was told that when she had problems there would be sweet times. She has found this to be true and knowing it is true helps her see the sweet times. Another sister said when she met her husband, he was a very timid person, but he reads his scriptures constantly and it is helping him have confidence. Being willing to take the Lord’s counsel can help us through the tough times even when we can’t see the reason the Lord tells us to do things. In the darkest of times, the Lord will help us. In D&C 78:17-18 it says we are like little children and the Lord will help us see the good.