Lesson for October 15, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on Chapter 18, “Virtue—a Cornerstone.” Maggie began by saying that during her education, she had to take a Latin class. She said that because of Latin class, that when we talk about virtue as chastity, it is not quite accurate. A lot of chastity lessons are about what not to do, but virtue is more about what we should be doing. In Latin it is virtue. Paul used the world and the Aritcle of Faith 13. Something related to power and moral excellence The woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Jesus’s clothes and virtue went out of him. Thinking of the broader definition, what does it mean to live a virtuous life? Being pure, living up to standards, doing good for others, integrity, being whole, being righteous and standing in holy places, a strengthe of values, learning from the best books. We’re seeking for these things, as it says in the Article of faith. We all have strengths and we have to seek after additional things. The Lord has said to let virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then the Holy Ghost will be our constant comapanion. Could there be a greater promise than this? Even our thoughts should be virtuous. We should seek for consciousness and being strong. As we choose to have virtue in our thoughts and hearts, we can act with confidence and have a measure of power in our lives. It goes beyond chastity, but in all our lives. When we are honest, we are able to be trusted and confident in our actions, have peace of mind, have a clear conscience, and have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Then you can be filled with light and have the reputation of helping others and being trusted. We build up our inner selves as well as our outer selves. With the topic of pornography, those involved in it are exploiting others and objectifying them and not viewing them as our Heavenly Father would intend for us to view his children. On her mission, Suzy Sullivan studied the scriptures about virtue and most of her actions were good, so she worked on her thoughts. Maggie reads an advice column for managers and a person had struggled with self image. A person was assigned to her team who was very young and beautiful and the manager knew she was treating this new employee poorly. Her lack of self-esteem was having a negative influence for her whole team. She lost her managerial situation and recognized it was because she couldn’t control her thoughts. If we work on our inner thoughts, we won’t be as likely. Heather Cantrell said when she was an airline stewardess, she had to deal with men who had no integrity and it scared her. Interacting with other people who don’t have integrity can be helped by living a virtuous life and being aware that these people exist, we can stand up for what we believe in. One of Maggie’s personal values is to not judge others. Satan can influence us if we are not strong in what we believe, especially if you do things you now you shouldn’t, then the Spirit isn’t able to be with us as strongly. The Christlike attributes are in Preach My Gospel and the virtues are really all interconnected, so if we can clear our thoughts by memorizing a scripture, we are also increasing our knowledge and obedience. It’s that way whenever we focus on one virtue. If your eye is single to God’s glory, you can be filled with light. Hymns, scripture stories, scripture study can help us focus on God’s spirit If you’re scared or bored or trying to find compassion with yourself. One of the Turning points is to recognize that the adversary gives us negative thoughts that can affect us even thirty years later. Our internal voices are really strong and that could be good or bad. We need to acknowledge what our internal dialogue is so we dont let ourselves down. Ask if this thought is from Heavenly Father or some other source and replace it if you need to. We can be like God because we are His children. Physical appetites and desires can be controlled with discipline and maturity. It is possible that we can master ourselves. Sometimes it’s just a process of growing older or changing your circumstances. Having compassion on yourself. Joseph Smith said he did not care how fast we run on the path to virtue. So, as long as you’re trying, you are on that path. We are most likely not going to be perfect in this life, but we can be courageous and become women of integrity. We know that Heavenly Father wants us to be.

Lesson for October 8, 2017

Today our lesson was given by our Relief Society president, Suzy Sullivan, based on the talk “Be 100% Responsible,” BYU Elder Robbins at a BYU devotional. Suzy began the lesson by saying she had another lesson prepared and she heard this talk and decided it was what she needed to talk about. On the board she wrote AGENCY and RESPONSIBILITY. Satan goes about getting to us in sneaky ways He attacks both of these. In Hellman 13:40 it says to remember that those who perish and do iniquity do it themselves. So, we. Are responsible for all choices we make. Sometimes Satan convinces us that the principles of salvation should be used for evil purposes. For instance, freedom of choice could be used to choose abortion. He gave a list of anti-responsibility choices: 1. Blaming others; 2. Rationalizing or justifying; 3. Making excuses; 4. Minimalizing or trivializing sin; 5. Hiding; 6. Covering up; 7. Fleeeing from responsibility; 8. Abandoning responsibility; 9. Denying or lying; 10. Rebelling; 11. Complaining or murmuring; 12 Finding fault and getting angry; 13. Making demands and entitlements; 14. Doubting, losing hope, giving up, and quitting; 15. Indulging in self-pity and having a victim mentality; 16. Being indecisive or being in a spiritual stupor; 17. Procrastinating; 18. Allowing fear to rule; 19. Enabling. Sometimes there are actual reasons, but there is a difference between reasons and excuses. Suzy let us hear a story from the talk about how sometimes excuses are counterproductive, even if they are right. He told about two employees who were supposed to ship materials to where Elder Robbins and his employees were giving presentations. When he talked to the employees who were supposed to ship, they excused their errors and blamed them on others. Then an executive of a large company wanted a seminar, but the supplies were wrong. There was a lot of anger and a Vice President said there will be no more errors. So Elder Robbins’s instituted an incentive system for no errors. He told the employees that they would lose their bonus if there were errors, no matter who was responsible. He told them they were 100% responsible for each shipment. He said he removed the anti-responsibility list from their list of possibilities. They took it to heart and started calling other divisions to verify correct materials and shipment. Errors finally stopped and they began to earn their bonus each month. It brings peace when we are empowered and have taken the initiative. Elder Robbins told stores about being married. One woman drew a line down a piece of paper and wrote her husban’s Faust on one side and things she should do down the other. Then she threw away the side of the paper with faults on it. Forgiving is the responsibility of each of us individually. Communication is key to understanding expectations. For example, our spouses probably don't understand what we expect without being told. We need to recognize that we are needing to overcome some things, an take responsibility for fully confessing our sins and any wrong choices we make. We can’t blame other people for our wrong choices especially if you are the one who made a decision. Suzy suggested that we read the tall, so look up BYU education week and Robbins and Responsibility. He also calls this list the anti-faith list. We can all repent and take responsibility, so if we take these things to the Lord, He can help us.

Lesson for September 17, 2017

Today our season was given by Camille Maynard on Chapters 16 and 17 on "The Power of the Book of Mormon" and "Continue in the Great Process of Learning." President Hinckley told the story of when he was a missionary and he read the Book of Mormon before he went to bed each night He had a conviction come into his soul that the Book of Mormon was true. He gave a challenge in 2005 for the church members to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas, and many did. He proclaimed that the Book of Mormon supports the Bible in being a testimony of Jesus Christ. 2 Nephi 25 it says that we base everything on Christ. In Alma it says Christ suffered everything so he could succor us. All of 3 Nephi, especially chapter 11 about the coming of Christ. If you study the Book of Mormon prayerfully, you will learn of the gospel. Both sets of people received the same teachings and principles. The plain and precious points of the gospel are sometimes removed from the Bible, but they are found in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. We can receive a revelation for ourselves of the truth of the gospel, the test is found in the words in the Book of Mormon. The power from it comes as a gift from God. You can know for yourself if it is true. Moroni was the final writer in the Book of Mormon wrote in ch 10:5 that if you read the Book of Mormon and ask God with a sincere heart and real intent, you can know for. Yourself. It's so personal because we all receive our witness in different ways. We can have the Spirit testify to our hearts that these things are true. The Lord makes it so you can't prove scripture with scientific methods. The Lord is merciful to have us get our testimonies through spiritual means, rather than scientific means because then we have the passion necessary to change our lives. We have to have real intent, or the Book of Mormon is just another book. Once the Holy Ghost has testified and it is engraved on our hearts, then we can be assured. The stories speak to our hearts better than God giving us a list of do's and don't' We née to read the scriptures all our lives because they mean different things to us as we are in different stages. Focusing on what we are reading helps. Another section in this lesson is about having a testimony of the Book of Mormon can help us get a testimony of other truths, such as having a testimony of prophets, Jesus Christ, the priesthood, the church. Basically every truth of the restoration hangs on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. If you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, you have a testimony that God lives. There is a promise that if we keep the commandments, we will prosper. We can have a testimony that the Bible is true because of the the Book of Mormon supports the Bible. Listening to the prophet's counsel and reading the Book of Mormon helps us to really come to know Christ. Without the Book of Mormon, we can still know something about the Savior, but not as well. If we have questions in our lives, if we read the Book of Mormon more, God could answer our prayers better. The problems in our lives and in society could be made better and be answered if we read the scriptures. Sometimes you have to do the work of studying the scriptures to get enlightenment to know the solutions to our problems. If we need help remembering, we need to have the Holy Ghost with us to help us remember and we can have the Holy Ghost with us if we read the scriptures. There are stories about how the Book of Mormon affected people like Parley P. Pratt and how they came to read the Book of Mormon. Pratt called it the Book of Books. He read and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He became one of the leaders of the Church and gave his life for the gospel. It can move people in their hearts, more than converting their minds. Another story was about a woman who read the Book of Mormon and was able to stop smoking. Another story was about a man in prison and he found a copy of the Book of Mormon. He read the book and became a changed man. President Hinckley said such is the power of the Book of Mormon. If you read it a measure of the Spirit will come into your hearts.

Lesson for September 3, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Andrea Gerber and Emily Campbell as the presidency lesson about "The Strength of Women" and "Humanitarian Aid." Emily is the ward humanitarian aid and stake representative. Our responsibility as sisters, working together, we will get together for a large project to help others in a way that we can't do as individuals. We will meet at the stake center on October 3, from 2-8 p.m. Emily let us hear an excerpt from Sister Burton about those who helped the handcart companies. Such service brings unanimity. What we need to remember is that we need to make covenants and become better people. We become better y serving others. We read Matthew 25:35-36 about when Jesus said I was an hungered and ye gave me bread. The First Presidency wrote a letter about becoming part of the I Was A Stranger project. You can look on the lds.org web site to see what ways you can help. There are 60,000 refugees who live in our state, and our people were refugees as they came into this territory as pioneers, so we understand what it is like to be a refugee. We have an opportunity here with four projects. One is Days for Girls where women around the world, have their periods and have to stop working or gong to school when they have their periods. The project we're working on is a kit made out of felt fabric sewn into washable pads and clean underwear and soap and information to educate women about their menses. We need people. There is also a project to make quilts and teddy bears for children. We're working with Tabitha's Pantry to supply foods. We're trying to help these people simulate into our society. We are looking for donations for things they might need for people who are moving to Utah, such as cleaning supplies, cooking utensils, storage supplies, laundry supplies, personal care items, bicycles, art supplies, and other supplies. These people are like you and me with different experiences. This is our opportunity to love and serve. Emily said they understand that we cannot give everything, but the widow's mite is appropriate example. Andrea wants us to reflect on the power that we have as sisters. In America we are the most liberated women in the world. One of the powers that we have is chastity. Sheri Dew said she was invited to a World forum on women. She was able to speak to these women. She spoke about chastity and abstaining from all sexual relations outside marriage. She explained that she had never had to wonder about an abortion or a sexually transmitted disease or divorce. Women who don't have the gospel model in their lives dont have the assurance in their lives of men who want to be men with responsibility. We have a lot of influence in the family and a lot of power in society. Women can lead out to instigate activities and over our children's minds. Not all men and not all women understand the role of women. We understand that Eve was wise and far-seeing. If we want to change the world, it comes from the home. It is powerful to raise daughters and sons. To bear children is a power. To bear with children is another power. Even if you don't feel that they deserve it , we love them. Women have the power of love and long suffering. Moral authority is based on the gospel. We can back up our understanding of what is right or wrong with scripture and the words of the General Authorities. Temple power and the power of the endowment. We're armed with God's power. Joseph Fielding Smith said that all the blessings given to men are also given to women. We can be given strength beyond our own to face trials. Sheri Dew said that the moment we learn to unleash the full power of women in gospel territory, the landscape of the church will change. We're not just daughters of God, in the church we are women of God.

Lesson for August 27, 2017

Kristine Hansen gave our lesson today about President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk "Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear." Kristine started the lesson by telling the two main purposes: Contemplate the extent by which we use fear to motivate ourselves and others, and to find a better way. Fear is important to help us avoid danger, but it is necessary to know the right thing to fear. Have we ever told a child, "Just wait until your father comes home." It makes them fear their father and that's not what we want. It is true that ear has an influence, but it does not have the power to change our hearts. People who fear often say the right things, but they do not feel the right thing. Then they might behave the opposite of what we want. He said it grieves him that church members often exercise unrighteousness dominion, yet they cannot see it in themselves. When others don't obey arbitrary rules and then they are punished. The Lord wants us to show love unfeigned and showing forth more love. Do we cause ourselves to be afraid. We sometimes fear one thing in politics and economics, but we can prepare. It startled many of us that Earl Harding died suddenly last week. We wonder if it could happen to us. It can be a wake up call. We fear over our wayward children. We are fearful of health issues. We fear that we might die in our sleep. Lisa Anderson it's good to come to sacrament meeting every week so we only have seven days of sins we need to repent of. As our kids get older and make decisions we wonder if they will make the right ones. Satan wants to manipulate us by making us fearful, yet right now is actually one of the best times to be alive. Heavenly Father wants us to not be afraid. He does not condone bad behavior. He wants us to change more than o ur behavior--he wants us to change our hearts. He wants us to reach out and firmly reach out and grasp the iron rod. President Uchtdorf said God is our mentor and wants us to make better choices, but through love and staying positive and look to Christ. There are challenges and opportunities for us to experience. When Kristine hears about some things, she emails her sister and says, O isn't it awful and her sister says it is according to plan. We need to prepare ourselves to receive the Savior when he comes again. Does that change our perspective? He has given us an abundant number of things to help us overcome Perhaps as we age. Lori Freytag said when she found out she was pregnant with twins for a second time, she was told by doctors that there were risks. She relied on priesthood blessings and faith to help her turn her fears around and accept whatever would happen. One sister has a four-year-old child who has no stranger danger and she is fearful he will go up to the wrong person. She was in the shower and thought she should view thee people as Christ viewed them and from that moment her anxiety is gone. We do have to wary, but as a mom we can get feelings about what is wrong or that something is wrong. We should not see danger everywhere. Alana said she was reading the Book of Mormon and was assured that her children who served in the military would be safe. When one of her sons was on a mission, he was robbed and yet came out OK. President Uchtdorf read a string of scriptures about how obeying the commandments and looking to God can cast out fear through perfect love. God wants us to turn to him and love Him and he will protect us.

Lesson for August 13, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Charlene Farnworth about Jesus Christ, His Characteristics, His Actions, and His life. Charlene began by asking what do we think of Christ? She talked about songs of Christ. She talked about Elder McConkie's song, "I Believe in Christ." She said he wrote these words when he was battling cancer an he exemplified a follower of Christ What His characteristics and actions that gives us a relationship with Christ. Emily Campbell said that from Noriko Viramontes's talk, he spent time with sinners. She said, "God love token things." He is compassionate and accepting. He loves us unconditionally. He is patient with us. He performed miracles. His miracles were to benefit someone, not himself. He was perfectly obedient to his father in heaven, even though not always to his mother. He knew the plan in the pre-existence and he performed the plan perfectly. He was humble. He grieved for us. Even though he was busy, he gave one-on-one quality time to those who needed it. He had strong leadership, yet he was meek. He forgave everyone, including those who were wrong. Kristine Hansen said she has been going through the scriptures about Christ and she was struck by how powerful he is. Charlene said she enjoys the many paintings that have been painted recently that depict Christ in his power and glory. She suggested we go to see The Light of the World exhibit at Thanksgiving Point. He was sinless. He served others. He had perfect timing, even though some thought he was late. He is God. He healed--who else can make us whole. We need to acknowledge his power and that he is God and not treat him as if he is a common person who has no power to save. Do we ever avoid saying God bless because we are afraid of sounding preachy. In the scriptures, when Christ spoke to his disciples, he asked what they thought of Christ? The Pharisees said he was the son of David and Christ used logic to refute them. We discussed some comments that were distributed among the sisters about what the prophets have said about Christ. We decided he lives and he is the light of the world. Through faith we can gain a testimony. Joseph Smith's first vision can teach us so much about God. Everyone of us has had personal experiences dealing with things that could not be resolved except through the power of Jesus Christ.

Lesson for August 6, 2017

Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on the Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley chapter 14 "Losing Ourselves in the Service of Others." Maggie started by reminding us of what she taught us a couple of weeks ago. She appreciates his optimism and how he encouraged us to make the world a little better. In a Presidency message in 1986, he told of Jesus Christ serving others. Andrea told of how Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood. If you make your life a life of service, it will start ripping outward and others will be blessed whom you did not even know you did. Maggie told of Jesus healing the woman who was bent over and He healed her on the Sabbath. Vira told of Jesus who brought to life the son of the Widow of Nain. Another example was the woman who was taken in adultery and Christ showed compassion to her. Ultimately all of us are sinners, so we should e treating others compassionately. Heather Cantrell told of how Christ was chastised, but said he had to go about his Father's business. Paige Gibson said she remembered how Jesus washed the feet of his apostles. He descended below all things to lift us above all things. The story of Lazarus is memorable for his healing in the name of the Father. President Hinckley established the Perpetual Education Fund and other things that blessed those who didn't have much or who was struggling. Lisa Anderson told of how the door into the bride room was altered when President Hinckley said it was too narrow for bride's dresses. We're doing service as mothers and friends. It's not something we wouldn't do. What we do is serve each other. President Hinckley said to map out some of our lives to serve others without recompense. If not now, when? If not you, who? Lana Horrocks said that she is still being blessed for something that happened 40 years ago. Two women talking in the chapel were talking about problems. One said, "I don't know what you need, but I want to help you" and she didn't leave her friend, but helped the woman figure things out. Maggie said at work she is the go-to person who helps students understand about her profession. Maggie said she used to suffer from anxiety and depression and her second semester at BYU. The girl next door to her struggled even more and caused issues. Maggie didn't want to be that way, so she didn't have someone to talk to. So she thinks that when people struggle, we shouldn't push people away. You never know that someone you will be kind to years ago will remember you years later. Several sisters told of the kindnesses done for their loved ones. If we are willing, we can do wonderful things. Looking at those things gives us the motivation to serve others. It's a good idea to ask in morning prayers to help others. Andrea had a paradigm shift when she learned to trust the Lord, but then she wondered if the Lord could trust her, which is more important. Listening to the Spirit can help us know when others need help. President Hinckley said that when we help others, we find our true selves. Mary Ellen Smoot said when we are united in helping others, we can succor those in need. If you feel to help others, take advantage of all the opportunities to help others.