Lesson for July 23, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen about a talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "A Voice of Warning." She wanted to approach this lesson by asking the journalism questions who, what, why, when, who, how? What is the voice of warning? In the D&C it says it behoves every man to warn his neighborhood. Sister Horrocks said she felt like with her children, she was a steward and was suppose to warn them. Are we supposed to put on sackcloth and stand on a soapbox and warn people about their spiritual danger. Elder Christofferson said that the warning voice is supposed to be one of love. It needs to be firm and clear and rooted in love, such as the sacrifices made by our missionaries. To warn is to care. If we're going to warn neighbors about spiritual dangers, we do it by love, persuasion, and caring. Linda Campbell told of a story Elder Holland told at the missionary conference about a young man who left his family to join a motorcycle gang. Two missionaries stopped by his house and were not put off by his Doberman Pinschers and asked him where he came from. The man said he was from Pocatello and he admitted the family he came from and their name. One of the elders said, "That's my family, too, and God sent me to invite you to come home. Our parents have been praying for you every morning and every night." The man did come back and was eventually sealed in the temple. Lisa Merrill read some of her daughter's mission letter telling about a man's conversion and the change that has come over him as he has learned. She said she has been compared to Jesus and talking to them feels good. Love is reflected in kindness and ways we approach people. Heather Cantrell told of her cousins who showed up at her house yesterday to mend the rift in their family. Her cousin had been warned by her stake president that she needed to visit Heather. What a great surprise. We need to think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Our neighbor is really anyone we come into contact with. Teaching and testifying of the gospel truth is important and especially the joys that can be had with faithfulness. Staying in touch with relatives and friends and showing them a way and a pattern to behave can benefit. It could be a stranger. Lisa Anderson had an experience with a home health care person who came to help take care of Lisa's unle and was very interested in a church magazine with President Hinckley on the cover. So you never know when you will have an opportunity. Heather Cantrell said she gave a Book of Mormon to several people who have joined the Church. Kristine told about going to Jerusalem and went to the Garden Tomb. It was shady and green and birds singing. The tour leader said they would now have a testimony meeting. One member of the group was Elder Martinez of the Seventy. He said it is our privilege to bear testimony. His son said, Whenever I think of Jesus, it just makes me smile." Then people felt comfortable bearing their testimony. Kristine said we need to be loving and kind and willing to be bold in sharing good news.

Lesson for July 16, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp about Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley chapter 13 on "Peace and Contentment through Temporal Self-Reliance." Maggie asked us to write on temporal self-reliance--free association--what do we think about it. We talked about the things we wrote down. She asked us to talk about emotional and spiritual self-reliance. Lots of things are thrown at us by life. Being able to handle stress is important Having a good self-image and having resources that can help us. Having a support group. Spiritual self-reliance is being able to pray and get inspiration for themselves is important. We have to walk that fine line between being self-reliant and being willing to accept help. If we have our own self-reliance, we can help others. Having a relationship with the Lord and understanding the language of the Holy Ghost is something to develop that can be a resource. We'll be better equipped to handle adversity and life in general. When we think of when we are trying to seek answers or get guidance, if we have an understanding of what our own goals and strengths are, we can handle our problems better. Things that may be viewed as negative about can be obstacles. Sometimes when we feel judgmental if we think others ought to be more self-reliant. Sometimes were afraid of being taken advantage of. It's a good thing to help others, so we feel reluctant. Work can be a blessing or a curse. The world teaches us self-reliance differently by saying we should be proud of what we can do ourselves. We know we can't do anything without Christ. We're so dependent on Him for everything. Planning ahead is a service to your family, especially with wills and property allocation and everything else. Having things planned also means that we can serve others. Getting and education and knowing how to work can help us weather storms. People taking care of other people is paramount. You can help people become self-sufficient through serving them and teaching them. Being able to manage our responsibilities is helpful to us as well. The church has a new web site on self-reliance that has aids to building your own business to learning certain skills at https://www.lds.org/topics/per-self-reliance/live. Having a testimony of the gospel and reading the scriptures can help with emotional and temporal self-reliance as well. Having peace in our lives is related to having good personal resources and that is related to our relationship with God. Our self-reliance is related to our choice to be self-reliant. Knowledge we can gain, talents we have, Church resources, family resources, are all important to face life's challenges and receive the answers we need.

Lesson for July 9, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard on Chapter 12 of the Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, "Obedience: Simply Live the Gospel." Camille started by saying that simple doesn't necessarily mean easy. President Hinckley said when he was fourteen, he heard President Heber j. Grant who quoted that great scripture by Nephi about whatever the Lord commands, He gives a way. In his first talk in Church when he was called to be a General Authority, he talked about the necessity to understand the purpose of the Churhc and to be obedient to the commandments, be courteous, and be more Christlike. It's a season to reach out with love and acceptance. We shouldn't judge others or their actions. Chelsea Jolley said, Let those with the right authority do what they need to do and the rest of us should just be nice. President Hinckley also talked about being a covenant people. The Restoration was to bring back that covenant with God and His people. "We are a covenant people, and great are the obligations which go with that covenant. We cannot be ordinary people. We must rise above the crowd. We must stand a little taller. We must be a little better, a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more courteous, a little more thoughtful, a little more outreaching to others." We have to put off the natural man and not be swayed by what is popular. We are suppose to be steady, which makes us not ordinary. One sister said that if she were not a member of this Church, life is much different from her siblings. Camille said her friend has left the Church and how different her life is now. Her day-to-day life is different without the gospel. Jayne Galloway said that once we make those covenants and make the decision to honor them, it makes life a whole lot easier. Seeing the way people dressed just gong into the mall or going into the distribution center gives us an idea of how peculiar we are. We have to make the choice to stick with our convictions. Virginia Roundy said that when we only see the world as it is we lose the bigger picture. We have to put off carnal pleasures and wait for eternal rewards. Understanding that you are a child of God and who you are helps you make decisions that you should. You can get really lost by thinking things are important that are valued by the world, but it might not be part of the gospel at all. The way of the gospel is really quite simple, even though it might not seem to be. One sister said she went with a friend who asked her to come into a bar with her and she wouldn't have to do anything, but sit there. She did and she met a man who asked her out and she ended up marrying him. For example, the type of entertainment we watch or where we like to be. Really small decisions in your life can have big consequences. Elijah went and did according to the word of the Lord. There was no arguing or waffling. He simply did what the Lord wanted. There are strict rules for every mission and some differences, but what a time in their lives is it that they learn how to be strictly obedient. Heavenly Father is so smart to ask young men to go on missions at that age. We should all try a little harder to the divinity in is and be better than what we are. We are religious 24 hours a day, not just on Sunday. We should be living our beliefs all the time. The whole story of the Book of Mormon is a story of how when people are righteous, they are blessed. When they are not righteous, there is war, famine, and sin. The Church will not dictate the way someone should go, but it will point out the way and leave it up to them. When President Hinckley was a college student, he thought the president of the church had overstepped his bounds. His father said the president always sought the guidance of the Lord and has no personal agenda, but only want the Lord's agenda. There is no selfish desire no matter what the issue. There is no desire to teach anything other than what the Lord would teach in the same circumstances. We need to sustain him. He is not perfect, but he is who the Lord has chosen, so our job is to sustain him. There is a principle we should follow: Keep the faith. A promise is that if you keep the faith, you will receive happiness. He told of a train with a baggage car that got lost because a switch point had been moved 3", making the baggage car move from SLC to New Orleans. A small movement may create a great gap. Actions may be magnified over time, so make the actions good actions. If we simply live the gospel as it has been laid out for us, we will receive blessings.

Lesson for July 2, 2017

Today our lesson was given by our president, Suzy Sullivan. She taught us about talks, one by Elder Simmons "Let Us Not" and Elder Bednar and how we should say Thy Will Be Done. We need to trust that God loves us and has the big picture in mind. You have to let go of trying to counsel the Lord. You have to keep doing what you can, but even if you don't know what is next in store for you, you need to trust that God knows best and has the big picture in mind. You do know that Heavenly Father can give us extra grace and strength to handle what we have to go through. If we dont get what we want, we can still trust in our Heavenly Father and have peace that His will happens. You try to understand what is happening and why it is His will. What should be learn from the situation and not become bitter or angry. Suzy played part of Elder Bednar's talk about a couple who went through adversity. The husband was diagnosed with bone cancer with nodules in his lungs. He felt he had failed as a husband. His wife said it changed her perspective. She said it was the worst day of her life, but she was grateful for their temple marriage. Chemotherapy affected his health and psychology. They would sometimes wonder what Heavenly Father had in store for them. They found that prayer was their savior. The husband had surgery on one of the tumors. They found that the eternal principles they learned were invaluable. They had to find the faith to not be healed. They had to accept that the blessing they needed was contingent on not being healed. They recognized a principle that strong faith in the Savior must take into account the timing and purpose of Jesus Christ as a child submits to its father. What seemed to be perplexing questions, came to be seen as major principles to learn, such as "He that shall find his life shall lose it. Lots of paradoxes seemed to present themselves to the couple. They submitted their will to the will of the Father. True faith is to trust the Lord. The important thing is that they exhibit that true faith. None of us are going to escape challenges, so we'd better be strong. The time we have together with our families is a blessing, even if there are problems. Those who are made stronger can help others. Suzy told of how her husband wanted to go get a PhD and did not get accepted. They were puzzled, but then they started their own business and they got what they wanted, but a different way from what they thought they would get. Fear not, but believe. See what you do have as a gift. Sometimes we are blessed by some of our most painful experience. Sometimes when you plan things out, they do not turn out as great. We do our best with what we know and then accept what God gives to us. Elder Bednar said that if all maladies were removed, the plan of the Lord would be frustrated. He loves us and we are in his hands.

Lesson for June18, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard about Chapter 11 of the Teachings of Gordon B Hinckley, Chapter 11 "Home--The Basis o Righteous Life." Camille started by telling about President Hinckley and the Proclamation on the Family. There is a story about their home where their children grew up and how sad they were when they decided to move closer to Church headquarters He called the Proclamation asa a clarion call to strengthen the family and home. We all want to have strong homes. Camping together can strengthen a family. Family dinners can help families to bond. Extended family dinners are important to because everyone needs good relationships and people they can lean on. Prayers for each other can strengthen bonds. Going through hard times together can give a bonding experience. Having some available time together is important for feelings of closeness. Even if you have a very healthy family, investing in the one you love the most makes a big difference. Family councils helps a family to counsel together and to plan the year for the family. Family council can give children a voice We have to know and have to plan so time is apparent to us when we can spend time together. We want to be part of our grown children's lives, so social media can be a good way to stay in touch. President Hinckley said a home is the basis for a righteous life where we teach gospel principles. We can love our wayward family members and bless them through our examples and love. Family Home Evening, scripture study, and temple attendance, and even church pageants can help the family to be stronger. Church pageants are a way to be immersed in the gospel. Starting the day with a family devotional can help gospel principles be normalized. The roles of fathers and mothers are in viewing children as gifts of the Lord an a residue of affection that will guide love and respect for each other and for their parents. Single parents can allow leaders in the church or friends in the church to help their family. Never forget that Heavenly Father is there for us. He ways He will come to us even though we cannot go to Him. President Hinckley said he built his first home and the landscaping. He planted a honey locust tree right where the wind blew. When it grew, it grew in the direction of the wind. He tried to correct the tree by cutting off a branch that leaned too far, which was a drastic remedy. Remember to train up a child when he is young and when he is old he will have grown the right way. It doesn't take as much effort when children are young as it will when they are grown. One sister said that one-on-one outings with parents can help children know they want to be good, go on a mission, go to the temple, and other good things. It does take time. Having expectations can also be good. These expectations can be useful to guide children. They can be something to talk about between family members. Play and pray for your little ones. They are growing up in complex times that will require a greater strength than we have to have now. Pray that they will have that source of strength that will sustain them in any situation. Family prayer can be opportunities to express love for each other and be a special time to express gratitude for each of them. Saying nice things about other family members can bring a glow to their faces. Be careful not to be too critical. Help our children to know why we are grateful for the gospel and each other and help to strengthen their testimonies. President Hinckley said that when he was 5 years old, President Smith started Family Home Evenings. His family tried to do what President Smith wanted and even though their efforts were funny sometimes, something wonderful grew out of their efforts. Many times a FHE can be an opportunity to discuss gospel principles that are confusing. Sometimes FHE gives us a break from the world and can be a relief from stress If you have any doubt about FHE, try it for a while. Not every evening will be successful, but continuous efforts will bear fruit. Even if there are members who go astray. Keep at it. Never give up. Pray for them and love them and never give up. If we have those relationships in place, we could be non-judgmental so they want to be close to us. We can't take away someone else's free agency. If we have that relationship, then there may be times when we can offer some gentle comments. Raising a family may not be the easiest, but love can make the difference. With mastery over anger and Heaven's help we can be patient and encourage our family

Lesson for June 11, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on "Nurturing the Eternal Partnership of Marriage." She said marriage lessons are not her favorite because there are issues that hit close to home. President Hinckley said the early years were not that hard but he did learn that there has to be a little give and take. He said to lose a long-time companion is very hard but he has the assurance that death is not the end and as surely there is a separation, there is eternity. He also said of his wife that she had always given him wings to fly and he has loved his wife for it. It is important let each other grow. Some sisters commented on the need to compromise and not to think you will change the other person. What is so good about President Hinckley and his wife Camille is that they acknowledge that there are problems, but they are so supportive of each other. Some of the things we need to take into consideration are unselfishness, supporting each other, . We do believe that our marriages will continue after death. It's a big deal to be sealed to each other and continue that relationship after death. Having divorce in the mix is scary. If you both continue and stay committed to the Lord. One sister thought she would never get married and had a hard time hearing about marriage, but she learned that even if she had those expectations, she learned that those good qualities can affect your relationship with every relationship you have. She said when she did meet her husband and he eventually wanted to go to the temple, it changed him and their relationship. Once they did get sealed, that mantle came onto their marriage and it was such a blessing. The deeper meaning of a Temple marriage can bring a closeness. In the marriage companionship there is no superiority, but a partnership of equals and each encouraging each other. If you're speaking to your spouse of should or ought, then you have a parent/child relationship and not a marriage. Do the job that needs to be done, even though some people do things differently from you. It's important to know why someone does something so you can come to an understanding. Resolving conflict is important. Contention comes easily and we need to know who we are and who our loved ones are. Lack of commmunication can lead to misunderstandings. A competitive spirit Differing cultural values. All these things need to be discussed and worked out. We can be a lot like our spouse but the family cultures from the families we come from can be very different. You are trying to mesh two different things to make your own cultural family unit. It is good to identify things to work on. The Holy Ghost can have a huge influence on your marriage if you are both trying to stay close to the Holy Ghost. If every husband or wife is doing what is necessary to make the other spouse comfortable, most problems will disintegrate. It goes back to being flexible and not seeking an argument. Not expecting our spouse to read our minds. As women, we're very hormonal, so we need to understand when our physical condition makes us more combustible. Ask yourself if there are things that are making you or your spouse grouchy. There must be respect for the wants and needs of each other. It all falls back on selflessness. If you make the effort for your spouse to accomplish or grow in talents, then you will grow closer. Marriage teaches you to be humbled and broken and formed into a different person. How do you balance that support so you don't feel burdened. It helps to be loving to them first and then their hearts will be softened. We shouldn't count instances or saying what is fair or not. Sometimes a role has to change to help the couple work things out. God loves us no matter who we are.

Lesson for June 4, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber of our Relief Society presidency. The lesson is on forgiveness. Andrea started by saying that she has been thrust into a master class on forgiveness. She set some base rules about what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not accepting people who has harmed them. It does not require us to ignore the wrong we see, but we must not treat others in anger. Forgiveness is not necessarily reconciliation. It doesn't mean rationalizing bad behavior. It doesn't mean that trust is restored automatically. Some things don't require restoring trust in any situation. When Andrea moved into the ward, some ugly accusations were made against them and they ended up in court. She had never had anyone try to harm her before. All the rules she knew suddenly were not working anymore. The judge saw through the accuser's claim and declared Andrea and her husband were innocent. During this situation, she felt close to the Lord and it was sweet. She felt humbled by her situation She contrasts that what she felt as she developed a sense of anger and self-righteousness and that was harder than being sued. Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke about the law of compensation: It may not come right away, but every tear will be recompensed. Andrea found that taking revenge could heal what happened to her heart. She had to turn to the Lord. The law of compensation is key. In Isiaiah 6:3 he says that Christ will give beauty for ashes. In Luke 6:38 it says give and it shall be given to you, for with the same measure you use will be given to you. She used an analogy of buying rice in a market and the seller won't shake the basket to give you more when it settles, but the Lord will let the rice settle, fill your basket again, and let it run over it's so full. President Uchtdorf says that means we should have kindness. Some sisters told of times when they have been healed and compensated. Emily Campbell told of losing one daughter three years ago and how it was the worst. She said that her other daughter has the same disease and is getting worse, so her experience is a holy and a sacred thing. She feels like her experience happened for a reason. Several sisters went through hard experiences in divorce and yet they feel like they have been compensated and have closer relationships with their current husbands. Andrea told about her little brother who has Down Syndrome and autism and what a blessing he is. Sometimes the compensation is not being trapped like some are by bad experiences. Hopefully the joy of living better is compensation. Maggie Kopp said that our culture needs outrage right now. Sometimes this outrage makes us do good things, like MADD or something like that. But moving beyond being outraged is the better course. If you're always campaigning against something is not as good as campaigning for something. Campaigning against can develop into a form of pride. If you can pray for someone, you can perhaps move beyond that bad experience. At one point Andrea felt it was unsafe to forgive. When someone hurts us, they have stolen from us. She feels like it makes little holes in her soul. What she fills those holes with are things like hurt and anger and the memory of that experience. So she felt like should remember to have something to keep. We have to give up those things to allow the Lord to fill our holes with love and more than we had before. One sister said she had an unjust bill, but as soon as she paid it, it was no longer in her life. Ask yourself if you are enjoying victimhood. You get to feel sorry for yourself. We're talking about score keeping. In a marriage, keeping score is harmful to a marriage and to a life. The gospel doesn't allow us to keep score. We can allow the Lord to have things under control and take care of the situation Then He can fill our souls with light and love. Open your heart. Soften your heart. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the gospel the dark of anger and revenge disappears. We can pray for people. If you can pray for someone you can feel love in your heart. It's important to remember that everyone is suffering. We should never project our anger onto anyone else. Andrea says she believes in the power of prayer and doesn't want karma to not happen, but you should pray that that they get what they need to become a different kind of person. Sometimes you need help from the Lord to take it as far as it should go. He gives us the love to forgive. Turning to the Lord can heal us. Fill our days with uplifting church programs and scriptures and service and our healing can begin. The Lord's conditions are that we forgive other so He can forgive us. The commandment to forgive is for our good. You don't have to be a Victim twice by being victimized by your own hate.