Lesson for September 17, 2017

Today our season was given by Camille Maynard on Chapters 16 and 17 on "The Power of the Book of Mormon" and "Continue in the Great Process of Learning." President Hinckley told the story of when he was a missionary and he read the Book of Mormon before he went to bed each night He had a conviction come into his soul that the Book of Mormon was true. He gave a challenge in 2005 for the church members to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas, and many did. He proclaimed that the Book of Mormon supports the Bible in being a testimony of Jesus Christ. 2 Nephi 25 it says that we base everything on Christ. In Alma it says Christ suffered everything so he could succor us. All of 3 Nephi, especially chapter 11 about the coming of Christ. If you study the Book of Mormon prayerfully, you will learn of the gospel. Both sets of people received the same teachings and principles. The plain and precious points of the gospel are sometimes removed from the Bible, but they are found in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. We can receive a revelation for ourselves of the truth of the gospel, the test is found in the words in the Book of Mormon. The power from it comes as a gift from God. You can know for yourself if it is true. Moroni was the final writer in the Book of Mormon wrote in ch 10:5 that if you read the Book of Mormon and ask God with a sincere heart and real intent, you can know for. Yourself. It's so personal because we all receive our witness in different ways. We can have the Spirit testify to our hearts that these things are true. The Lord makes it so you can't prove scripture with scientific methods. The Lord is merciful to have us get our testimonies through spiritual means, rather than scientific means because then we have the passion necessary to change our lives. We have to have real intent, or the Book of Mormon is just another book. Once the Holy Ghost has testified and it is engraved on our hearts, then we can be assured. The stories speak to our hearts better than God giving us a list of do's and don't' We née to read the scriptures all our lives because they mean different things to us as we are in different stages. Focusing on what we are reading helps. Another section in this lesson is about having a testimony of the Book of Mormon can help us get a testimony of other truths, such as having a testimony of prophets, Jesus Christ, the priesthood, the church. Basically every truth of the restoration hangs on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. If you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, you have a testimony that God lives. There is a promise that if we keep the commandments, we will prosper. We can have a testimony that the Bible is true because of the the Book of Mormon supports the Bible. Listening to the prophet's counsel and reading the Book of Mormon helps us to really come to know Christ. Without the Book of Mormon, we can still know something about the Savior, but not as well. If we have questions in our lives, if we read the Book of Mormon more, God could answer our prayers better. The problems in our lives and in society could be made better and be answered if we read the scriptures. Sometimes you have to do the work of studying the scriptures to get enlightenment to know the solutions to our problems. If we need help remembering, we need to have the Holy Ghost with us to help us remember and we can have the Holy Ghost with us if we read the scriptures. There are stories about how the Book of Mormon affected people like Parley P. Pratt and how they came to read the Book of Mormon. Pratt called it the Book of Books. He read and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He became one of the leaders of the Church and gave his life for the gospel. It can move people in their hearts, more than converting their minds. Another story was about a woman who read the Book of Mormon and was able to stop smoking. Another story was about a man in prison and he found a copy of the Book of Mormon. He read the book and became a changed man. President Hinckley said such is the power of the Book of Mormon. If you read it a measure of the Spirit will come into your hearts.

Lesson for September 3, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber and Emily Campbell as the presidency lesson about "The Strength of Women" and "Humanitarian Aid." Emily is the ward humanitarian aid and stake representative. Our responsibility as sisters, working together, we will get together for a large project to help others in a way that we can't do as individuals. We will meet at the stake center on October 3, from 2-8 p.m. Emily let us hear an excerpt from Sister Burton about those who helped the handcart companies. Such service brings unanimity. What we need to remember is that we need to make covenants and become better people. We become better y serving others. We read Matthew 25:35-36 about when Jesus said I was an hungered and ye gave me bread. The First Presidency wrote a letter about becoming part of the I Was A Stranger project. You can look on the lds.org web site to see what ways you can help. There are 60,000 refugees who live in our state, and our people were refugees as they came into this territory as pioneers, so we understand what it is like to be a refugee. We have an opportunity here with four projects. One is Days for Girls where women around the world, have their periods and have to stop working or gong to school when they have their periods. The project we're working on is a kit made out of felt fabric sewn into washable pads and clean underwear and soap and information to educate women about their menses. We need people. There is also a project to make quilts and teddy bears for children. We're working with Tabitha's Pantry to supply foods. We're trying to help these people simulate into our society. We are looking for donations for things they might need for people who are moving to Utah, such as cleaning supplies, cooking utensils, storage supplies, laundry supplies, personal care items, bicycles, art supplies, and other supplies. These people are like you and me with different experiences. This is our opportunity to love and serve. Emily said they understand that we cannot give everything, but the widow's mite is appropriate example. Andrea wants us to reflect on the power that we have as sisters. In America we are the most liberated women in the world. One of the powers that we have is chastity. Sheri Dew said she was invited to a World forum on women. She was able to speak to these women. She spoke about chastity and abstaining from all sexual relations outside marriage. She explained that she had never had to wonder about an abortion or a sexually transmitted disease or divorce. Women who don't have the gospel model in their lives dont have the assurance in their lives of men who want to be men with responsibility. We have a lot of influence in the family and a lot of power in society. Women can lead out to instigate activities and over our children's minds. Not all men and not all women understand the role of women. We understand that Eve was wise and far-seeing. If we want to change the world, it comes from the home. It is powerful to raise daughters and sons. To bear children is a power. To bear with children is another power. Even if you don't feel that they deserve it , we love them. Women have the power of love and long suffering. Moral authority is based on the gospel. We can back up our understanding of what is right or wrong with scripture and the words of the General Authorities. Temple power and the power of the endowment. We're armed with God's power. Joseph Fielding Smith said that all the blessings given to men are also given to women. We can be given strength beyond our own to face trials. Sheri Dew said that the moment we learn to unleash the full power of women in gospel territory, the landscape of the church will change. We're not just daughters of God, in the church we are women of God.