Our very own Jayne Galloway on the radio

Here is a link to a performance on the radio by our very own Jayne Galloway! Isn't she great? She's in the middle segment. Here is the link for the KBYU radio program Highway 89. The archived episode : http://www.byuradio.org/show/f039dbaf-9694-427d-ba36-71a102a6b469

Lesson for June 28, 2015

Lesson for June 28, 2015 Today the lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on “Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom; by Elder Robert D. Hales. Many of our founding fathers and ancestors left their home countries because there was an official religion. The First Amendment to the Constitution is that there shall not be an established church. Because of choice, Americans tend to go to church more than those in countries with established religions. The low commitment in Europe and high commitment in America is that we are the descendants of those who left for religious freedom. Most major religions have lost members, while non-Christian affiliations have grown. Still, 76% of people in the USA do identify with Christians, but not all of them belong to a church. Who do people put their trust in? In the 1970s it was religion. Now it is 4th behind government, military, and police. Elder Hales said that in the premortal world Satan exercised their agency to end their progression. On the other hand, Jesus exercised His agency to keep the commandments and glorify His Father and His Father’s plan. By listening to the Holy Ghost and following His guidance, we are more free because we are more like our Heavenly Father and have more power and are not weighed down by burdens of sin and sorrow. Our agency to choose the right is key to our happiness. In Communist countries the influence of communism is evil and controlling. There are four cornerstones of religious freedom: The freedom to believe; The freedom to share our faith with others; The freedom to form a religious organization; The freedom to live our faith in private and public places. Many people drag their dislike of religion into the political and social words. Kristine told of Senator Kris Kunz of Delaware who went to Africa and worked with Desmond Tutu and with the poor. He went to Harvard for a law degree and also entered divinity school. Many of his friends left him. His roommates moved out. He went to his friends and found that many of them had deep pain from encounters with religious people, so it goes both ways. Bearing our testimonies in love without judgment is a good way to express the love we have. Often our kids don’t accept those who aren’t LDS and those kids feel rejected. The ones who accept them are the ones who are in trouble. Another sister grew up in Cleveland and her parents told her to think before reacting and wonder if what she planned to say would foster those relationships. We need to be sure we are true friends with these people. Heather Cantrell said when she went to BYU she was shunned because she was from South Africa and her country was apartheid. Alan Cherry, a black man, made friends with her and she appreciated his friendship. It is important for us to accept others and their religions and it can strengthen our own testimonies. Elder Hales gave three keys: Become informed about issues that impact us and our church; join with others who are interested in religious freedom; and be good examples. How we live our religion will mean more than what is said about our religion. We are looking at trying times ahead, but we are led by prophets and church leaders who foresee what is going to happen so we can be ready.

Pioneer Day Activity July 18

Starting at 7:00 a.m. we will have breakfast, a 5K run, a parade, and games. Come!

Links for Kristine Hansen's Lesson

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Speech on Religious Freedom given at BYU-Idaho 13 October 2009. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/oaks-religious-freedom Elder Wilford W. Anderson, “Religion and Government,” Ensign, July 2015, pp. 47-49. 2015-07-20-religion-and-government-eng.pdf from the Mormon Newsroom: “The Divine Institution of Marriage.” http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

Lesson for June 14, 2015

Relief Society Lesson for June 14, 2015 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on “Follow the Living Prophet.” Think of this lesson and next week’s lessons as ways the Lord communicates with us. President Benson said about Family Home Evening that he remembers the first time he heard the letter of the First Presidency that families would be strengthened if they held Family Home Evening and thereafter, his family diligently held Family Home Evening and he said they reaped the benefits. Other programs also help us. Sister Linda Campbell remembers when all men could receive the priesthood. Another program was when all the Sunday meetings were combined. The Perpetual Education Fund has changed the lives of thousands of members. Now there is a new program called Pathways that helps people start college. The Proclamation on the Family has made a major impact. To know we can have modern revelation so we can relate to these as relevant to us and that the Lord is interested in us. We know that the Lord does not privilege one group or age of people and not another. President Benson said that the most important prophet is the one living today. So Maggie wants us to look at President Monson’s teachings. October 2013 on Sunday and to the Relief Society, President Monson taught using stories, as he often does, so we need to look at the point of the story and what he wants to teach, as well as seeing how these teachings relate to me. Maggie gave us time to read through the stories and then we discussed what we learned from them. From talk about the blessings of the temple, he told the story of a young missionary who had visa trouble and went to a different place and had trouble. He got sick and had to go home, but when he got sent back, it was to the same place he had had trouble. The missionary went to the temple and met another young man who had enjoyed his mission. The young man had gone to the same mission that the missionary had trouble in. He learned that his Heavenly Father knows him and what he needs. To relate that to us, we need to know that the blessings of the temple are priceless and can help us find peace. In his talk about Ponder the Path at thy feet, President Monson said we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience. As we go through this life, it’s not like no one ever did so before and Jesus experienced it all and we can follow Him. Another story is about a deaf and blind man who asked President Monson for a blessing. Even though he was confined to a small room in a care center, he was still grateful and knew Heavenly Father cared about him. Life has a purpose and God is in charge. The poem at the end of the talk is about how we grow from difficulty. President Monson had lost his wife not long before. Another talk is about how love is the essence. We can recognize someone’s need and we can show them love. We show love by serving others. He is always encouraging and loving and not judgmental. The things he teaches are basic, but essential. We can’t truly love God unless we love each other. It is important for President Monson to be teaching us these things because he knows life is difficult, so we can take comfort from his teachings and know how to live. President Monson is a prophet. He knows what we need and what Heavenly Father wants for us.

Lesson for May 31, 2015

Lesson for May 31, 2015 Our lesson today was by Jessica Lewis about “Personal Mission.” She explained about personal missions. Yesterday she spoke at a conference on home schooling about personal missions and she was moved to tell us several principles that relate to us and has been spoken of by the General Authorities. What is a personal mission? There is not just one plan of happiness. Heavenly Father has a plan of happiness for each of us. There is a path we are to walk and people we are to touch. We receive a foreordained plan in our patriarchal blessing. A really good term to search in lds.org is foreordination. It does not guarantee that we will definitely receive or experience certain things. Before we were born certain men and women were given certain responsibilities and tasks. As people prove themselves worthy they will be given opportunities to fulfill these foreordained duties. A curtain has been drawn so we do not remember, but we know that Heavenly Father has all power and agency and can give us eternal light and everything we need. When we come into mortality, we bring with us our talents and capabilities. As we live our lives we develop those we concentrate on and work on to develop our own personal plan of happiness. We developed faith and relationships. Neal A. Maxwell said that premortality is not a relaxing doctrine, since those previously chosen must still prove themselves. Of course, the premortal life is the first estate. Mortality is the second estate. Elder Orson Hyde said we have forgotten, but sometimes there are inklings. There can be surges of déjà vu and memories. When we say “I know” it is a rediscovery of what we knew before. Jessica said the first time she went to the temple, she was overwhelmed by a feeling of familiarity. Another sister said she felt like the temple was home. Heavenly Father has not just one thing, but things he wants for each of us. Elder Redd of the Young Men talked about the importance of finding purpose. We might be in a row boat in the middle of the ocean without direction, but we can gain purpose through the Holy Ghost and the teachings through the scriptures and church leaders. Women have a divine role as mothers and nurturers and teachers. We can help prepare others for divine lives. We struggle with patience and being a good teacher. We can pray to get the Spirit so we can be patient. Life by the yard is really hard. We can be the best we can for a minute or a day, so we cannot beat ourselves up for being upset. It does even out. Fortunately, there is repentance and we can tell our children or family members that we are sorry. We are being taught ourselves and it is a good thing to share that thought with our children. Elaine Dalton said to the Young Women that we knew it would be difficult, but we had the confidence that we could be successful and make a difference when we followed Christ and came to earth. We have missions as women who are members of the Church. We can know what it is through personal revelation and the more we understand our mission, the more we can accomplish and have the desire to accomplish. When we do the work before we go to the Lord, we are rewarded with personal revelation. Jessica has a testimony of these principles and wants us to know it, too.

Lesson for May 3, 2015

Lesson for May 3, 2015 Today our lesson was given by Amy Young about Charity Never Faileth. It is the pure love of Christ, the highest form of love. As Amy was listening to the Relief Society Women’s Conference, she heard President Eyring say those words. She wondered what it would mean if Charity Sometimes or Often Faileth. She had us turn to Moroni 7: 45 about charity suffereth long. One sister said it seems to be saying, Get over yourself. President Monson gave a talk about charity in 2010. It says, “Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time.” It is also to accept the service of others as much as they can and in the way they can. Sister Bahr said we need to remember that as we work on charity and our weaknesses, the other side is that if we fall short of perfection, we must realize we are not perfect and it is still worth it to try. We never should give up. Amy said the bishop said it doesn’t matter where we are, but what direction we’re going. Emily Campbell said it is important to not keep score and let go of all the pettiness of keeping track of what they do. It is important to not stop loving those who let us down and let them know we love them and won’t give up on them. In applying this principle to ourselves, we need to realize that we can improve. President Monson gave several examples of charitable acts, some that were little and some took years, such as inviting someone to sit with you or persisting in visiting teaching. Amy said that sometimes we don’t even realize the good we’ve done and how it affects others. A quote from Elder L. Tom Perry said that he often thinks of what the Savior would do. He said when he was sent to Japan after WWII, he was able to help reconstruct several Christian churches so they could meet again. As the soldiers left Nagasaki, the other marines teased them for just working, instead of playing, and yet a group of 200 people then came to the train to sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” to them and wave good-bye. He knows that the only way we will have joy in this life is by serving others and keeping the commandments. Elder Quentin L. Cook said to compare President Monson’s experience to the soldiers who engaged in foolish or even wicked things while in Japan. We need to give ourselves a rest sometimes, but we do need to soldier on. President Eyring, in this latest conference said that when we feel the Spirit we can recognize that we have sisters who love us and who need our help. We can serve best by knowing how the Lord answers prayers and that is often through us. Jesus Christ relieves all burdens and heals all wounds and truly understands what we are going through. What humbles us is that Heavenly Father loves the sinners as much as he loves us. He feels joy when we bear one another’s burdens. Amy sees so many acts of kindness and it touches her, so she can only imagine how much it pleases our Heavenly Father when we do those things. President Monson said, “There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, and those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.” It should not be hard to find people who need help, since statistics show that 50% of people are in crisis. What a huge impact it makes in the lives of people to give and receive service. Those visiting teachers who have visited people every month and become close to them are the ones who can help. Sara Campbell read the verses in Alma about if we want our prayers answered, we need to be the answer to the prayers of others as we exercise charity.