Lesson for August 28, 2016

Lesson for August 28, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on Teachings for Our Times on talks by Elder Stevenson (“Where are the Keys and Authority of the Priesthood”), President Monson (“A Sacred Trust”), and By Elder Rasband (“Standing with the Leaders of the Church”). The theme is being united by priesthood authority and priesthood keys. These were addressed to priesthood and the youth. How do we as women experience the priesthood and priesthood keys and those we associate with who hold the priesthood. Kristine went to Denmark and saw the original Christus, along with the statues of the twelve apostles that are in the church with the Christus. President Kimball and several apostles and seventies went to Copenhagen and had a private showing. President Kimball told the stake president, pointing to the statue of Peter with keys, that he held the real keys and told the stake president to tell everyone in Denmark. He told the caretaker that he worked every day with apostles in stone and today he was in the presence of real apostles. The original keys had disappeared from the earth, so after Joseph Smith began his ministry, he was visited, along with Oliver Cowdery, along the banks of the Susquehannah River by Peter, James, and John. The keys those apostles gave to Joseph and Oliver were for leadership, the gift of the Holy Ghost, giving blessings, organizing the Church, preaching. Before that in the Doctrine and Covenants, they were able to get the keys of baptism, sacrament, and the ministering of angels in the Aaronic Temple. In the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Joseph and his counselors went behind the pulpit and were visited by Jesus Christ, Moses with the gathering of Israel, Elias and the gospel of Abraham and gathering our families for eternity, and Elijah with the sealing keys. The rest of the Christian world does not understanding the existence and necessity for keys. President Monson has all the keys and the apostles have the keys in dormancy. When President Monson dies, the other apostles place their hands on the chosen apostle and activate the all the keys in that person. It’s as if we have a car, but no keys. What keys really mean is the ability to preside, direct, and delegate. President Monson can use these keys to delegate to the other leaders of the Church in an orderly fashion by authority and by revelation so the Church can function. It’s not about age or experience, it’s about order and calling and keys. People who are called to a calling are given the keys to operate in that calling. Not all decisions have to be made by a bishop, but can be made by a father or one who has stewardship over something. President Monson told a story about a WWII pilot who was shot down. He and his crew were in a life raft for three days and rescuers didn’t see them. The young pilot had the priesthood and was impressed to command a rescue ship to pick them up. The ship turned and came to them and picked them up. Chelsea Jolley said her father was in an accident when Chelsea was five. He was on life support and the family was being prepared for his death, but the stake president gave him a blessing that he would have a miraculous recovery. Chelsea’s mother went home and started baking cookies, because everything would be all right. Her father lived for more than twenty more years and was able to work, even though he had some physical problems. Heather Cantrell’s daughter was healed by the power of the priesthood when she nearly died because of heart problems. Elder Rasband asked several questions about standing with the leaders of the Church, such as are we listening to the counsel of the leaders of the Church? Do we accept their counsel? Do we have a testimony of the leaders of the Church? Do we choose to follow their counsel? Do we choose to hold fast to the iron rod? Are we standing with the leaders of the Church? Do we believe they have the keys and represent the Lord? Our leaders include the General Authorities, the stake president, the bishop, and the other leaders in our ward, including both women and men. If we don’t stand with any of these, we’re not standing with the Savior as well as we can. Kristine found that a beloved niece who married a returned missionary is not going to bless her child in the Church because of literature by those disaffected by the Church. Her older sister has a husband who is not in the Church. They have seven children and some have followed her into the Church and some have followed her husband. She was asked to be a Young Women’s president, but thought she would not take the calling because she was not the perfect Mormon woman. She dreamed that the Savior called her to the calling, so she did accept. How can we stand with the Relief Society presidency or the leaders of the Church? Accepting callings is one way. Doing what they ask us to, such as studying the scriptures, going to the temple, doing our visiting teaching, etc. Going the extra mile in small things, such as setting up and tearing down chairs and tables, sitting next to people who are new, not thinking somebody else can do whatever needs to be done. One of the ways is to realize that all the levels of people in the Church are trying to do their best and that we still need to help them without criticism. Not judging is an important principle. Realizing that the Lord guides the Church and will help to qualify those who serve is a good way to operate.

Lesson for AUGUST 14, 2016

Lesson for August 14, 2016 Our lesson today was given by Camille Maynard about President Hunter’s teachings about “The Sacrament and the Lord’s Supper.” Because President Hunter was not baptized until later in his life and was not allowed to pass the sacrament, he had some tender feelings about the sacrament, especially about how the boys who get to pass the sacrament should have the feeling that it is a special experience. He talked about the Passover and how the sacrifice was a lamb without blemish. It represents Christ’s sacrifice and the fact that Christ is the Shepherd. It reminds every generation of the freedom and deliverance of the Hebrews from the Egyptians, as well as spring and the deliverance from winter. It shows that the grave and death have no lasting power over us. Chris Boyadjian told of the process in Europe from Christmas to Easter of participating in the Passover. After eating the bitter herbs and unleavened bread, the lamb is so sweet. It is to teach us that accepting the Savior is sweet. When the Savior instituted the sacrament at the time of the Passover, to show that it was another milestone in His ministry. He said that he who believeth on me shall never hunger and he who believeth on me shall never thirst. His sacrament ties the New Testament to the Old Testament. It was the last Passover Jesus was mortal on this earth and he testified of his purpose, but people were still not able to understand. Finally preparations for the Passover were complete. Jesus taught them a newer and holier meaning of the bread as his body and the wine as his blood and how it is to help them remember Him. It took the old covenant of protection to a new covenant of safety. Now animal sacrifice was not needed because He had made the sacrifice and given them the emblems of his blood and body. We can be safe from addictions and other sorrows through being obedient to our covenants. We are spiritually safe, as well. In the preexistence we had the faith that Jesus would save us and the sacrament shows that we are saved from the finality of death and hell. President Hunter told about his experience during a sacrament meeting. He told of taking the sacrament and feeling like we are serving other as we pass the trays along the rows. He told how Christ’s sacrifice took the place of animal sacrifice. He is a good example of what we should think about when we are taking the sacrament. We can think about if we are putting God above all others. He mentioned the baby that cried, but surely the Lord would not be displeased that a child was participating in the ordinance, although we should try to teach the children before church about how to behave. We are teaching our children that on Sunday that is where they should be. Sometimes in other churches, children are not tolerated. We all have strategies to make being in church more attractive than being outside of church. On lds.org there are stories from members about how they handle church things that we can learn from. Our children learn how to behave from that training.

Lesson for August 7, 2016

Lesson for August 7, 2016 Today was a Relief Society presidency lesson. It was given by Adele Hickman on “Approaching the throne of God with confidence” by Elder Jorg Klebingat. First we had Sister Linda Campbell tell us about her experience doing visiting teaching and how Bishop Roundy told her that if every member did their visiting teaching and home teaching, his burden and bishop would be lighter. Sister Hickman told us about her father and how he was her therapist and friend. He had a PhD in psychology, played the piano, and has a song in the Primary songbook. He was so kind and good that Adele is sure he could approach the throne of God with confidence. Elder Klebingat said that the adversary tries to put as much distance as possible between you and God and that there is no use in trying to do better. It’s a lie that Satan uses to confound us. As long as you allow these lies to chisel away at your soul, you will not live life in a healthy way. There are things we can do to gain spiritual confidence: (1) Take responsibility for your own spiritual wellbeing. Stop making excuses. The Lord knows your circumstances and also if you don’t want to live the gospel. Spiritual confidence grows when you take responsibility for your growth. (2) Take responsibility for your physical wellbeing and start at where you are and then you can increase your strength. You can be more confident if you feel well. (3) Be obedient. Confidence comes when you are obedient. Sister Jolley said when her son was getting ready for his mission, she thought it was genius to send out a self-centered young man to where he has to be 100% obedient and learn something. What a great time for them to learn. Her son learned so much about how much better life is when he was obedient. Sister Hickman said her son Adam played ice hockey and the championship game was on a Sunday. His teammates and their parents all tried to persuade him to play. He decided not to play and when Sister Hickman asked him why, he said “You taught me.” She was so happy. (4) Repent quickly. We get confident when we know we are right with God. Emily Campbell said her kids are learning to repent quickly. Another sister said that happy families and unhappy families fight the same number of times, but the happy families forgive each other quickly. In Dorothy Francis’s family they can say, “Erase, erase” when they say something wrong. Sister Hickman told the story of a family of quail where some fell in the drain on the street and they were able to get all but one out. The one would not cooperate. (5) Become really, really good at forgiving. Spiritual confidence increases when God knows you have no ill feelings toward someone else. Sister Boyadjian said that taking responsibility for your own actions and repenting quickly is like what they ask you to do in therapy. It’s our decision to be better and choose what to do. There are plenty of excuses, but we need to stop being the victim. In the Olympics yesterday in the women’s rugby a woman had cancer, but kept training in spite of her chemotherapy and now she is in the Olympics. (6) Accept your trials as part of mortality. You never know what will happen. Millions are being tested. Don’t feel like you are being punished, but that it’s part of the plan. Partner with God to do well to the end. Some of your experiences with be with you for your life and you need to just do your best to be acceptable before God all the time in spite of your shortcomings. God has planned many experiences for all of us that we signed up for and that will only happen in this life. We need to have an eternal perspective that we agreed. Adele’s son Brent was teaching at University of Chicago and was made bishop and had a family. He found that he had tumors in his sinuses and had to have serious operations. Adele asked him how he could go on. Brent said, “Heavenly Father knew I had these tumors when he made me the bishop.” Our Heavenly Father and His Son love us and put us here to succeed.

Lesson for July 17, 2016

Lesson for July 17, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard on the temple. President Howard W. Hunter preached that the temple should be the symbol of our membership. She said that we have to want to go to the temple. It is a symbol that we have done certain things to get there. President Hunter’s father was not a member until Pres. Hunter was nineteen. When President Hunter was a stake president, on his birthday he was asked to speak to a group in the temple. His parents walked in dressed in white and ready to have their endowments and sealing. He was speechless. Just the building is a symbol that others see. The placement of temples makes it so people can see them all of a sudden. Doing work for others can strengthen our own testimonies. How does going to the temple sustain the leaders of the church, even the local leaders? When we sustain someone, it is a commitment to support them, not just a vote, and it says that we believe in the gospel. We need to be morally clean. We need to treat our family well. We need to be honest in our dealings with others. We need to be a full tithe payer. We need to observe the Word of Wisdom. People who pay tithing and observe the Word of Wisdom usually are faithful about other things as well. Being in the temple is a break from worldly things and even being on the grounds brings us comfort. Even having a temple recommend relieves a lot of worry about things that go on in the world. Living those principles can help us in many areas of life. When we are free and clean from the sins of the world, then going to God’s house shows us what it will be like in the next life. President Hunter dedicated the Bountiful Temple before he died. He said that entering the temple helps us rededicate our lives and receive comfort. Having the temple in our lives can bring us peace and calmness. D&C 3:1 What a glorious thing to go to the temple and what a glorious thing to do temple work for others. Doing the work for the dead brings us blessings as well. Realizing that going with open minds can help us get the inspiration we should be getting. Jessica Lewis made a commitment to go to the temple so many times and had all kinds of problems getting it done, but on the last day, when she had too much to do, the temple workers and her Heavenly Father went to a great deal of trouble to help her go to the temple and get her other things done on time. We will receive blessings if we go to the temple and do our family history. In 1994, on his birthday and the birthday of the Utah Genealogical Society, President Hunter reflected on the great movement toward family history and how so many advancements have taken place that forwards the work. He also mentioned how important it is to work on family history. When we explain the temple to those who do not understand them, then we can perhaps help them to want to do their genealogy. How do you explain it to non-members? Books by the Church can help us explain that doing a person’s work is honoring that person.

Lesson for June 19, 2016

Lesson for July 19, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Camille Maynard on “True Greatness” from Chapter 11 in Teachings of Howard W. Hunter. Camille said she has been working Primary for the last two years, so she doesn’t normally get to see people. What is the world’s definition of greatness? Someone like Donald Trump; someone with education; important job; shows or says they’re accomplished; good looking; fancy car; says they’re the greatest; talented; celebrities. Howard W. Hunter said people who inspired used to be the most admired, but now it is movie stars. There is no lack of great people: inventors, doctors, musicians, artists, architects and those who accomplish great things. But the world’s definition of greatness makes some people unhappy because they are constantly compared to other people. It can be a damaging things because it can make people concentrate on having important jobs. Two minutes on Instagram can make us feel bad about ourselves for 50 different things. Many Latter-day Saints are happily enjoying the joys that life offers, yet many feel they have failed because they aren’t great. Within each of us is a giant of greatness. When there are problems, it is often because people won’t achieve worldly greatness. Adele Hickman said both her grandfathers were great who raised families strong in the gospel and went quietly through life. The things that make us truly great are not big flashy things. We need to have charity for others and for ourselves. In sacrament meeting a story was told about the necessity of treating everyone we come into contact with as someone important for us to get back to our Heavenly Father. How we treat others has a consequence attached. Those who can love the unlovable are truly great. You have to do it for the right reasons, so the rewards are equal to the intent. True greatness is related to loving to yourself and inside, but not in a self-centered way. Whenever we get away from our own concerns and focus on other people, we can gain greater happiness. It’s a series of small things that build up over our lives. True greatness comes from thousands of little deeds and losing our lives for others, even if unnoticed. Howard W. Hunter’s wife suffered from strokes and required constant care, even though he was the prophet. He would do his work in the day and then go straight to see her. He continued to tell her of his love. This care continued for ten years. Even when she got so she did not recognize him, he continued to care for her. Those things that we call extraordinary, we must ask, “What does God expect of us?” Gaining a knowledge of our Father’s family and their needs and the common lot of all mankind can help us know what to do to serve. True greatness in a large part comes through an understanding of who we are. Our self-worth comes from our knowledge of how great our Heavenly Father is. We can be good listeners, loving each other, showing affection to others, showing patience in moments when our patience is thin, even for good reasons. Sometimes we can overthink what we should be doing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t think of what we can do better. The Prophet Joseph Smith often spent part of his days looking for ways to serve others and making others feel worthwhile. The governor of Illinois sent a posse to arrest Joseph Smith. The sheriff became deathly ill and Joseph took the man into his home and nursed him for four days. Taking time to serve others and be there for them can be very important. Having lots of friends in social media is not the most important thing in our lives. Taking care of our families is more important. Telling our Heavenly Father our goals can help us find the circumstances we need to participate in. Sometimes it is strangers who help us or who we help. Sometimes we have to persevere through the hard times. Ways to persevere through difficulties include being persistent in goodness and not letting these things be roadblocks stop us from doing good. Camille had everyone get together in groups to discuss ways to persevere. The final message is that true greatness comes from quiet lives of service through difficulties and good times—sometimes in the midst of suffering and sorrow. Stories of people who come to success quickly, but true greatness is not quick and fast, but consistent work over a long time.

Lesson for June 12, 2016

Lesson for June 12, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp about “The Scriptures: The Most Profitable of All Study.” This lesson is from Chapter 10 from the teachings of President Howard W. Hunter. Maggie started with a presentation about scripture study. President Hunter liked to use scriptures in his conference talks to give examples and a context of the points he made; he had a great love of the scriptures and loved to study them. In the scriptures, there are stories that apply to every single circumstance we encounter. The manuals and church magazines are good, but if we only read those things and not the scriptures, it is not as good. Maggie asked what we do to read scriptures. You can use the online scriptures and make notes and highlight, so no matter what device you use, those personalized things will be there. Some people highlight in their physical scriptures and change copies to highlight different things and see the scriptures in a new light. New sets of scriptures give us the chance to look at things in a new way. Some type up scriptures to open their minds and be able to have the Spirit help them think better. D&C 109:7 says that as all have not faith then study the scriptures and search out of the best books—books that uplift and teach us. Perhaps we don’t have the faith of Moses who was taught all things by God, but we can read our scriptures. Concentrated, focused, and prayerful study will help us get more faith and knowledge. President Hunter said that reading habits vary widely, but to understand requires more than casual reading and studying the scriptures every day. There should be a regular time each day when we can concentrate on the scriptures. Prayer helps our understanding a great deal. The Holy Spirit will guide our study. Whenever we study, most important is that a regular time is set aside for study, even a little time—regularity will help us reap great blessings, no matter the age. Even children have great insights that can enrich the rest of the family. Rather than a set number of pages or chapters is not as good as having a set amount of time. Emily Campbell said that reading in the morning, rather than the evening, is better for her and gives her greater insights. Reading as a family is good, too. Reading to a schedule is good, including seminary study guides and institute manuals. Reading with a pen in your hand while reading scriptures also gives you insights and points. Another idea is a scripture journal, as well as reading a companion’s scriptures to gain insights of the scriptures and the other person. If you need to make adjustments in your scripture study, try out some of these things this week.

Lesson for June 5, 2016

Lesson for June 5, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber of our Relief Society presidency about personal revelation. She said she struggles to get answers for her prayers, at least not clear answers. She was never sure. She feels that not many people discuss the language of the Spirit. She has learned a lot about what the prophets. Her favorite is by Richard G. Scott and acquiring spiritual revelation. The Lord has more for you, no matter where you are in spiritual growth. We need to be grateful for the revelation we have. Every good feeling we have is from the Holy Ghost, even the feelings we get from holding a baby. It is more like a warm light shining in your being. Many people in the Church will not feel the burning in the bosom, but only that light. Joseph Smith said that when you get pure strokes of intuition, that could be revelation. Elder Oaks said it could be inspiring feelings, performances, words, actions. Miracles are not usually the parting of the sea or a burning bush, but the small miracles that happen every day. We may not recognize the Spirit if it comes in common dress. We may feel a call to action because of a good Relief Society lesson or church talk. Praying about something and having it linger in your mind is a type of revelation, even if you fight against it. When we listen to the Spirit and carry out what our feelings are given to us, we respond to the Spirit and gain revelation and trust the answer. We also need to recognize what we have already been given as revelation and not worry that God is not telling us over and over again what we already know. We need to build on that knowledge. That is a confirmation. And sometimes the Spirit just gives us an impression, but that is revelation. As long as you live your life with the Spirit and so you can have the Spirit that you can have personal revelation in your life. We need to teach each other how to recognize the Spirit. The Spirit works differently with each person and you don’t have to have the same type of revelation as someone else does to have revelation. Sometimes you need to just ask and not look for signs. Acting with charity is guided by the Spirit. The Spirit follows humility and forgiveness. We all come from heaven with certain gifts, but the scriptures say to seek after the best gifts. If we act on the inspiration we get, the Lord will bless us with more. We can practice and not give up. The Lord can move a moving target better than he can move a stationary target, so we need to keep moving. Elder Holland told us how to tell the difference between our own thoughts and what we get from the Spirit. If the result was good, it came from the Spirit. If we operate on that premise and practice, we will get the answer we need—maybe not immediately, but we may receive inspiration and learn that what we are already doing and decided the best we could do, will be right. You have to be humble enough and brave enough and act on the inspiration. Some get an intense high when we are doing what is right. We sometimes have to work for our spirituality and that includes actively studying the gospel, going to church, attending the temple, taking care of our bodies, getting rid of critical or negative feelings, and actively doing what is necessary to receive the Spirit. Sometimes you need to be grateful for the type of revelation you receive. Strong emotions, such as anger, greed, pride, fear, exhaustion, and others overcome the effects of the Spirit. We need to remember that the Lord can overcome those. We can choose to not feel those emotions. We can choose to do the things we need to for us to receive revelation. We can choose to turn our lives to the Lord. Sometimes we are being tested to see if we will continue on. The Adversary is a copycat and can copy many feelings, but he cannot copy feelings of peace. Elder Scott said there is no simple formula or technique to gain the Spirit, but the Lord wants us to learn how to be led by the Spirit through our own struggle with the Spirit. It takes work. We cannot learn the language of the Spirit without work. Things you can try is to ask the Lord, study, act on any good idea, try the morning for revelation, fasting, taking care of our bodies, record your impressions so you can reply to the first impressions you are given.