Lesson for March 10, 2013--The Grand Destiny of the Faithful

Sister  Megan Williams gave the lesson for today from chapter Chapter 5  of the Lorenzo Snow Sister  gave the lesson for today from chapter Chapter 5  of the Lorenzo Snow manual, "The Grand Destiny of the Faithful." She started the lesson, "The Grand Destiny of the Faithful." She started the lesson with the first paragraph: In the spring of 1840, Lorenzo Snow was in Nauvoo, Illinois, preparing to leave for a mission in England. He visited the home of his friend Henry G. Sherwood, and he asked Brother Sherwood to explain a passage of scripture. "While attentively listening to his explanation," President Snow later recalled, "the Spirit of the Lord rested mightily upon me--the eyes of my understanding were opened, and I saw as clear as the sun at noonday, with wonder and astonishment, the pathway of God and man. I formed the following couplet which expresses the revelation, as it was shown me. …  "As man now is, God once was:  "As God now is, man may be."1 Sister Lee said it means we can become like God and have great potential. Sister B said it was a mind blowing concept when she became a member of the Church.  In addition to making this truth a theme for many of his sermons, he adopted it as the theme for his life. His son LeRoi said, "This revealed truth impressed Lorenzo Snow more than perhaps all else; it sank so deeply into his soul that it became the inspiration of his life and gave him his broad vision of his own great future and the mighty mission and work of the Church."3 It was his "constant light and guide" and "a bright, illuminating star before him all the time--in his heart, in his soul, and all through him."4 Megan said it makes want to learn so much more so we can fulfill our potential. We read the following passage: I believe that we are the sons and daughters of God, and that He has bestowed upon us the capacity for infinite wisdom and knowledge, because He has given us a portion of Himself. We are told that we were made in His own image, and we find that there is a character of immortality in the soul of man. There is a spiritual organism within this tabernacle [the physical body], and that spiritual organism has a divinity in itself, though perhaps in an infantile state; but it has within itself the capability of improving and advancing, as the infant that receives sustenance from its mother. Though the infant may be very ignorant, yet there are possibilities in it that by passing through the various ordeals of childhood to maturity enable it to rise to a superiority that is perfectly marvellous, compared with its infantile ignorance.6 Megan said president Snow often taught that we are children of God, so how does this help us know w ho we are. We read the quote This is the high destiny of the sons of God, they who overcome, who are obedient to His commandments, who purify themselves even as He is pure. They are to become like Him; they will see Him as He is; they will behold His face and reign with Him in His glory, becoming like unto Him in every particular. So How can we prepare our children to know they are children of God:  several sisters mentioned that how we treat our children helps them be secure in that knowledge and to know they have a divine mission. One sister said that when she thinks of cultivating, she thinks of a lot of work.  Another said it is by our example. It is by spiritual maturity. It is by being a good parent. We can't remain children, we have to grow up to be like God while remaining humble and teachable like a child. After all, Christ calls us His friends. sister Campbell said we need to teach our children to pray to God like a friend. sister Roundy said we need to write down with our inspirational experiences. sister Cantrell said we could bring the temple into our homes for inspiration. We read further where the lesson said,  "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." [ Revelation 21:7 ]  What an expression is that? Who believes it? If a father were to say to his son, "My son, be faithful, and follow my counsels, and when you become of age you shall inherit all that I possess," it would mean something, would it not? If the father told the truth, that son would have something to encourage him to be faithful. Did Jesus want to deceive us when He made use of this expression? I will assure you that there is no deception in the language. He meant precisely what He said. Again, Jesus said:  "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." [ Revelation 3:21 ]  That is a wonderful saying. Is there any truth in it? It is all true. It is the Lord Almighty that said it. We are told in the Scriptures by the Apostle Paul:  "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." [ 2 Corinthians 5:1 ]  I believe that. And when he says that Jesus "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" [ Philippians 3:21 ] I believe that also. Do the Latter-day Saints believe these things that I am talking about? You must, of course, believe them. Again:  "For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; Page: 88  "And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;  "And he that receiveth my Father, receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him." [ D&C 84:36–38 ]  Could anyone think of anything more that could be given? … Paul comprehended these things very well, for he said he "pressed forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." [See Philippians 3:14 ] One sister said if we knew how great our inheritance could be, it might motivate us. we went on to read, There could not be placed before men more glorious prospects than are placed before the Saints. No mortal man could wish anything greater or that will ultimately prove more satisfactory. Everything that pertains to perfect peace, happiness, glory and exaltation is before the Latter-day Saints. We should enjoy the spirit of this, and keep it actively before us. We should not let our prospects be darkened in the least by doing that which is not acceptable before the Lord.13 What can we do to keep our potential fresh? Going to the temple and doing initiatory is a great way to keep it fresh. The only time we should scream in our home is if there is a fire. We frequently, in the multitude of cares around us, get forgetful and these things are not before us, then we do not comprehend that the gospel is designed and calculated in its nature to bestow upon us those things that will bring glory, honor and exaltation, that will bring happiness, peace and glory. We are apt to forget these things in the midst of the cares and vexations of life, and we do not fully understand that it is our privilege, and that the Lord has placed it in our reach to pursue that gospel whereby we may have peace within us continually. …sister Cantrell said it always amazes her that people can sit through a three hour movie and stay awake but they come to church and fall asleep. Another said Music of the church strengthens us. Another said we need to have scripture study.

Lesson for March 3, 2013

Our lesson today was taught by Joyce Garner, lesson 3 Lifelong Conversion, Continuing to Advance. President Snow was looking for a manifestation after his baptism. We read the following passage:  "This manifestation did not immediately follow my baptism, as I expected," he recalled. "But, although the time was deferred, when I did receive it, its realization was more perfect, tangible and miraculous than even my strongest hopes had led me to anticipate. One day while engaged in my studies, some two or three weeks after I was baptized, I began to reflect upon the fact that I had not obtained a knowledge of the truth of the work--that I had not realized the fulfillment of the promise: 'He that doeth my will shall know of the doctrine;' [see John 7:17 ] and I began to feel very uneasy.  "I laid aside my books, left the house and wandered around through the fields under the oppressive influence of a gloomy, disconsolate spirit, while an indescribable cloud of darkness seemed to envelop me. I had been accustomed, at the close of the day, to retire for secret prayer to a grove, a short distance from my lodgings, but at this time I felt no inclination to do so.   "The spirit of prayer had departed, and the heavens seemed like brass over my head. At length, realizing that the usual time had come for secret prayer, I concluded I would not forego my evening service, and, as a matter of formality, knelt as I was in the habit of doing, and in my accustomed retired place, but not feeling as I was wont to feel.  "I had no sooner opened my lips in an effort to pray, than I heard a sound, just above my head, like the rustling of silken robes, and immediately the Spirit of God descended upon me, completely enveloping my whole person, filling me from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and O, the joy and happiness I felt! No language can describe the instantaneous transition from a dense cloud of mental and spiritual darkness into a refulgence of light and knowledge, as it was at that time imparted to my understanding. I then received a perfect knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood, and the fulness of the gospel.  "It was a complete baptism--a tangible immersion in the heavenly principle or element, the Holy Ghost; and even more real and physical in its effects upon every part of my system than the immersion by water; dispelling forever, so long as reason and memory last, all possibility of doubt or fear in relation to the fact handed down to us historically, that the 'Babe of Bethlehem' is truly the Son of God; also the fact that He is now being revealed to the children of men, and communicating knowledge, the same as in the apostolic times. I was perfectly satisfied, as well I might be, for my expectations were more than realized, I think I may safely say, in an infinite degree.  "I cannot tell how long I remained in the full flow of this blissful enjoyment and divine enlightenment, but it was several minutes before the celestial element, which filled and surrounded me, began gradually to withdraw. On arising from my kneeling posture, with my heart swelling with gratitude to God beyond the power of expression, I felt--I knew that he had conferred on me what only an Omnipotent Being can confer--that which is of greater value than all the wealth and honors worlds can bestow."4 sister Garner said there are steps we can take to keep the feelings we had when we were converted. We divided into groups to discuss how to retain the Spirit and how our testimonies become real; why a testimony is only a starting  point;how can we pursue this higher education; how to stand on our own knowledge; how can we dig deeply into the things of God; how can we incorporate our religion within ourselves. Linda Campbell liked what President Snow said, I will [present a] figure in regard to bringing about and getting this spirit in us, and digging deep that we in the time of storm, may not be driven off. Place a cucumber in a barrel of vinegar and there is but little effect produced upon it the first hour, nor in the first 12 hours. Examine it and you will find that the effect produced is merely upon the rind, for it requires a longer time to pickle it. A person's being baptized into this church has an effect upon him, but not the effect to pickle him immediately. It does not establish the law of right and of duty in him during the first 12 or 24 hours; he must remain in the church, like the cucumber in the vinegar, until he becomes saturated with the right spirit, until he becomes pickled in 'Mormonism,' in the law of God; we have got to have those things incorporated in our systems.

relief Society Birthday Dinner March 19

We hope to see you at the church at 6:30 pm at the for dinner and a short program.

Daylight Savings March 10

Spring forward--turn your clocks ahead one hour next Sunday, March 10.

General Conference April 6 and 7

General Conference will take place on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

General Young Women Meeting March 30

The General Young Women Meeting in conjunction with General Conference will take place on March 30 at 6:00 p.m.

Park Stake and Suncrest Stake Family History Workshop

The combined stakes of the Orem Park Stake and the Orem Suncrest Stake will take place on Saturday, March 9 from 10:00 a.m. To 1:00 p.m. At 50 South and 750 West.