Lesson Summary: May 26, 2013

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved" Doctrine and Covenants 87:8
Alice M. taught a powerful lesson today using the following talks from the May Ensign:

Stand Strong in Holy Places - Robert D. Hales
Be Not Moved! - Elaine S. Dalton
Your Holy Places - Ann M. Dibb

"In January of 1982, I spoke in a devotional on the BYU campus in Provo, Utah. I invited the students to imagine that the Church was on one side of the podium, right here, and the world was just a foot or two away on the other side. Back then I could not have imagined how far and how fast the world would move away from God; it was impossible to understand that, given doctrine, principles, and commandments. And yet the standards of Christ and His Church have not moved. As He said, “The truth abideth forever and ever.” When we understand and accept this, we are prepared to face the social pressure, ridicule, and even discrimination that will come from the world and some who call themselves friends." (Robert D. Hales)

If we stand in holy places we don't have to choose we have already made the choices.
Have you had experiences of the world pressuring you off of your holy place?
What are some of these holy places?

"Yet another unexpected holy place in Joseph Smith’s life was Liberty Jail. ...
While watching a Mormon Message for Youth, I witnessed [a] bedroom that had become a holy place. The video shows Ingrid Delgado, a young woman from El Salvador, sharing her feelings about the temple. She says, “It is good to know we have a place where we can get away from the things of the world and receive sacred ordinances and help those who couldn’t receive them in this life.” As she speaks, the video shows Ingrid reading her scriptures, surrounded by Mormonads, quotations, a Personal Progress book, pictures of her family and the temple, and yes, her favorite stuffed animals. Perhaps without even realizing it, she has created her holy place away from the things of the world. I wonder how many times Ingrid has read her scriptures, felt the Spirit, and received answers to her prayers in her holy place." (Ann M. Dibb)

"On the desk in my office, I have a bronze replica of a sculpture of a young woman whose name is Kristina. The original life-sized sculpture of Kristina stands on a pier in Copenhagen, Denmark, positioned so that she is looking out over the sea toward Zion. Her decision to join the Church and leave her home was not an easy one, and you can see that the opposing winds are blowing fiercely against her. She is standing firm, doing a very hard thing but one she knows to be right. Her descendants placed this sculpture there on that pier as a tribute to Kristina, for her decision that day had eternal significance for generations." (Elaine S. Dalton)

What are the things to help us to be not moved when we find ourself in opposition. How do we withstand the opposition?

"No amount of peer pressure, no acceptance, no popularity is worth a compromise. ... Your choices matter. Your choices now not only affect you, but they also affect others. They are of eternal significance. Be not moved!" (Elaine S. Dalton)

"Ironically, standing strong sometimes means avoiding and even fleeing from the world.
... use your agency to develop yourself personally. As you discover your gifts and talents, remember ... you must let the Spirit guide you. Choose and act for yourself. Be motivated from within. ...
As we diligently live the gospel, we become strong in the Lord. ... In the strength of the Lord we are able to stand against any philosophy or creed that denies the Savior and contradicts the great, eternal plan of happiness for all of God’s children. ...
In response to the Savior’s perfect obedience in standing strong, our Heavenly Father declared, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name.” ... let us glorify God’s name by standing strong with our Savior, Jesus Christ. ... Standing obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God, we stand in holy places, for His doctrine is sacred and will not change in the social and political winds of our day." (Robert D. Hales)

What we do can help others find their holy place.
Stand in holy places and invite others to join you.

Lesson Summary: May 19, 2013

Sara G. taught the lesson this week from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 10: “Come into the Temples”

President Snow was at the dedication of the capstone of the Salt Lake Temple and served as its first temple president.

40,000 people attended the capstone ceremony with an additional 10,000 nearby, President Snow gave instruction on the hosanna shout.
"This is no ordinary order, but is—and we wish it to be distinctly understood—a sacred shout, and employed only on extraordinary occasions like the one now before us. We wish it also to be distinctly understood that we want the brethren and sisters not only to express the words, but that their hearts shall be full of thanksgiving to the God of heaven, who has accomplished, through our agency, this mighty and extraordinary labor."
"Let your hearts be filled with thanksgiving.” He demonstrated the Hosanna Shout and then said, “Now when we go before the Temple, and this shout goes forth, we want every man and every woman to shout these words to the very extent of their voices, so that every house in this city may tremble, the people in every portion of this city hear it, and it may reach to the eternal worlds.”
“Just as the hour of noon was reached, President Wilford Woodruff stepped to the front of the platform, in full view of the assembled multitude, in whose midst a solemn stillness reigned. A thrill went through the hearts of the people as he spoke:
“‘Attention, all ye house of Israel, and all ye nations of the earth! We will now lay the top stone of the Temple of our God, the foundation of which was laid and dedicated by the Prophet, Seer and Revelator Brigham Young.’
“President Woodruff then pressed an electric button, and the Temple capstone moved securely into its position. The scene that followed is beyond the power of language to describe. The venerable President of the Twelve, Apostle Lorenzo Snow, came forward and led forty thousand Saints in shouting in concert:
“‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna! to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, and amen!
“‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna! to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, and amen!
“‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna! to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, and amen!’
“Each shout was accompanied by the waving of handkerchiefs. … The eyes of thousands were moistened with tears in the fulness of their joy. The ground seemed to tremble with the volume of sound which sent forth its echoes to the surrounding hills. A grander or more imposing spectacle than this ceremony of laying the Temple capstone is not recorded in history. The hosannas had scarce ceased when the vast congregation burst forth in the glorious inspirational hymn, ‘The Spirit of God like a fire is burning.’”

• What are we saying when we say hosanna to God?
• We're asked to establish a house of prayer...How do you think of your own home? What do you desire it to be like, what do you desire to feel or experience?
• Does a temple change the neighborhood community it's built in?
• Do you feel that the covenants and blessings that you receive from the temple effect your home?

"My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."
"Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is."

"I express my undying gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the temple now being built in Rome and for all of our temples, wherever they are. Each one stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations. Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth." 

2011 April General Conference, The Holy Temple-a Beacon to the World, Thomas S. Monson

"When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them."

2005 April General Conference, Hearts Bound Together, Henry B. Eyring

May the temple bring us strength and purpose to our lives.