Lesson for June 24, 2018

Today our lesson was about “Ministering motivated by Christlike love led by the Spirit.” Our lesson was taught by Lana Horrocks. The challenge las week was to b more unified with your family, or community. We also talked about learning about each other. In the June Ensign it discussed listening. Lana said to start a conversation. She handed out a sheet by Jeffrey Holland that listed 5 things to do to listen well: 1. Give them time, 2. Pay attention, 3. Clarify, 4. Reflect, 5. Find common ground. We are blessed by the Holy G Ghost, but we also need to have conversations. We also filled out a sheet on finding our own love language: 1. Words, 2. Quality time, 3. Gifts, 4. Service, 5. Touch. We discussed what each one means to the sisters in our ward. Sisters shared their experiences that made them feel loved. Be open about what your strengths are and what you like. We decided that being dependable is a good one. Lana had us get together with the sister we minister to and discuss the lesson.

Lesson for June 10, 2018

Today our lesson was given by Karli Stewart about a conference talk by Elder Lynn G. Robbins, titled “Until Seventy Times Seven.” first we talked about the challenge from last week concerning doubts. Be that person who someone can talk to. Karli said this talk is her favorite talk of the conference. Karli had several stories of famous people and how they overcame their problems, from Michael Jordan to Walt Disney, who all failed. Our purpose on earth is to grow closer to Christ through our opposition. We can see our failures as invitations to come unto Christ. The example is Oliver Granger, mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants for failing to raise enough money to buy property for the church. Yet, Oliver Granger stayed true. It is important to get up every time we fall. Elder Robbins said we should go from failure to failure without loss of failure. We don’t always know we will succeed, but we can learn from the effort. If you touch even one person, it’s worth it. If you’re trying to raise children, you can’t expect them to be perfect, but you can be part of their lives whether they are perfect or not. Measure success not on cultural expectations but on growth. Sometimes the results are the measure as well as the growth earned. Missionaries often judge themselves on the number of baptisms, rather than ultimate influence you may not even know about. It may not be kind of success we are looking for, but it can still be success. Heavenly Father doesn’t compare us to each other, but to who we have been. Hope and continuing effort matter. If we endure faithfully, we will be blessed. Our talents are ours and they are not the same as those others have. Remember the scripture about how many times we should forgive (seven times seventy) and access the atonement’s power that allows us to improve, forgive ourselves. We are children of God and we can’t contribute what we should to this world if we can’t forgive ourselves. We are given our trials to become like Christ, through His power. The challenge this week is to view our failures as an invitation to come unto Christ. Write five things that you love about yourself ad take them out to look at from time to time to remind ourselves that we have worth.

Lesson for June 3, 2018

Today we participated in an additional lesson on ministering presented by Susie Sullivan. Our challenge last week is finding our love language. How many of ou have had doubts about the Church. Nearly everyone raised their hands. What to do about it? President Holland said that belief is a precious act and the first step toward conviction. Why do we find it difficult to ask difficult questions? We don’t want to tear down the faith of those we associate with. We don’t want others to know that we don’t know because it makes us look weak. We want people to still love us. Sometimes the questions people have distance them or makes them angry or frustrated. Sometimes doubts come from fear. Fear of not knowing. Fear of not being accepted. Fear of not having our lives turn out turn out like we expect. We can respond by asking people what caused that doubt. Jesus taught using parables and had people leave because they did not understand. There is power when someone has had a relationship with God in the past, so it is important to bring people back to what they do know. It is important to validate their feelings so they feel worthwhile. People will listen more to someone who is sympathetic. Sometimes people don’t want answers, they want people to be there with them while they struggle. Bearing testimony is something that can’t be refuted because no one can refute what your own experience is. On the other hand we must accept what others have experienced and not make them feel deficient. Make people feel worthwhile and valued. Listen to them. Ask them where they think the answer could be found. Love one another so people feel loved and worthy of your love and the love of their Heavenly Father. Sometimes people understand love by how they are loved. Try to find people who come from a place of faith. Sometimes we can believe in someone who has faith more than we can believe in God, so be that person who can be believed in. continue to pray for people so that God can influence. Serving others can help erase doubts because you are serving one of God’s children. Our own families can provide strength by providing relationships that can relate to the relationship with God. Serving with pure love is what we can do to help each other. We need to make church a safe place where people can feel accepted and welcome. their answers may not be the standard answers, but they themselves need to feel loved. We should welcome each other and lift each other up. Challenge: if you’re having doubts, find someone to talk to and approach it from faith and understand that God knows the answers.