Lesson for August 27, 2017

Kristine Hansen gave our lesson today about President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk "Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear." Kristine started the lesson by telling the two main purposes: Contemplate the extent by which we use fear to motivate ourselves and others, and to find a better way. Fear is important to help us avoid danger, but it is necessary to know the right thing to fear. Have we ever told a child, "Just wait until your father comes home." It makes them fear their father and that's not what we want. It is true that ear has an influence, but it does not have the power to change our hearts. People who fear often say the right things, but they do not feel the right thing. Then they might behave the opposite of what we want. He said it grieves him that church members often exercise unrighteousness dominion, yet they cannot see it in themselves. When others don't obey arbitrary rules and then they are punished. The Lord wants us to show love unfeigned and showing forth more love. Do we cause ourselves to be afraid. We sometimes fear one thing in politics and economics, but we can prepare. It startled many of us that Earl Harding died suddenly last week. We wonder if it could happen to us. It can be a wake up call. We fear over our wayward children. We are fearful of health issues. We fear that we might die in our sleep. Lisa Anderson it's good to come to sacrament meeting every week so we only have seven days of sins we need to repent of. As our kids get older and make decisions we wonder if they will make the right ones. Satan wants to manipulate us by making us fearful, yet right now is actually one of the best times to be alive. Heavenly Father wants us to not be afraid. He does not condone bad behavior. He wants us to change more than o ur behavior--he wants us to change our hearts. He wants us to reach out and firmly reach out and grasp the iron rod. President Uchtdorf said God is our mentor and wants us to make better choices, but through love and staying positive and look to Christ. There are challenges and opportunities for us to experience. When Kristine hears about some things, she emails her sister and says, O isn't it awful and her sister says it is according to plan. We need to prepare ourselves to receive the Savior when he comes again. Does that change our perspective? He has given us an abundant number of things to help us overcome Perhaps as we age. Lori Freytag said when she found out she was pregnant with twins for a second time, she was told by doctors that there were risks. She relied on priesthood blessings and faith to help her turn her fears around and accept whatever would happen. One sister has a four-year-old child who has no stranger danger and she is fearful he will go up to the wrong person. She was in the shower and thought she should view thee people as Christ viewed them and from that moment her anxiety is gone. We do have to wary, but as a mom we can get feelings about what is wrong or that something is wrong. We should not see danger everywhere. Alana said she was reading the Book of Mormon and was assured that her children who served in the military would be safe. When one of her sons was on a mission, he was robbed and yet came out OK. President Uchtdorf read a string of scriptures about how obeying the commandments and looking to God can cast out fear through perfect love. God wants us to turn to him and love Him and he will protect us.