Lesson Summary: June 22, 2014

Judy Hulse presented thoughts and sparked discussion from the General Conference talk "Are You Sleeping through the Restoration" by President Uchtorf*.

The talk opens with the cautionary fable of Rip Van Winkle who slept 20 years and missed the Revolutionary War.

President Uchtdorf warns:
"When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly that of an observer?"

“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:34-35

He warns of addiction:
'Satan, our common enemy, has many favorite tools he uses to rob us of our divine potential to accomplish our mission in the Lord’s kingdom.

It saddens our Heavenly Father to see how willingly some of His noble [daughters] extend their wrists to accept the chains of devastating addictions.

[Sisters], we are truly [daughters] of the Most High and are endowed with unspeakable potential. We are designed to soar freely through the heavens. We are not meant to be shackled to the earth, imprisoned in straitjackets of our own making.

What is the remedy?

The first thing we must understand is that addictions are so much easier to prevent than to cure. In the Savior’s words, “Suffer none of these things to enter into your heart.” ...
My dear [sisters], always keep far away from habits that could lead to addiction. Those who do so will be able to devote their heart, might, mind, and strength to the service of God.'

Setting priorities-
Often we devote our best efforts in pursuit of a hobby, a sport, vocational interests, and community or political issues. All these things may be good and honorable, but are they leaving us time and energy for what should be our highest priorities?
Once again, it comes from the words of the Savior:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
“This is the first and great commandment.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

[Sisters], we have committed to be a people who love God and our neighbor and who are willing to demonstrate that love through word and deed. That is the essence of who we are as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Those who live up to these principles will not sleep through the Restoration.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
My dear friends, know that you are [daughters] of light.

I testify that the cleansing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the transformative power of the Holy Ghost can heal and rescue mankind. It is our privilege, our sacred duty, and our joy to heed the Savior’s call to follow Him with a willing mind and full purpose of heart. Let us “shake off the chains with which [we] are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.”

*since this conference talk was given during Priesthood session, many pronouns here and during our lesson were changed to the feminine though the message is equally important to both genders.

Lesson Summary June 15, 2014

Tori B led the discussion using Chapter 10 in the Joseph Fielding Smith Manual "Our Search for Truth". 

Secular and spiritual learning can go hand in hand:

"We believe in education. As a people we have always sought learning in every field, and as a Church we have spent great sums and made considerable sacrifice to make education opportunities available to the Church members. And particularly in this day of scientific research and development. We think our young people should get as much education and technical training as in wisdom is necessary. But we think this pursuit of worldly learning should be tempered with a like pursuit of spiritual understanding. It is more important, a thousand times over, to have a knowledge of God and his laws, so that we can do the things which bring salvation, than it is to have all the worldly knowledge that can be obtained" (Joseph Fielding Smith Manual)

Knowledge follows us in the next life: D&C 130: 18-19

18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us   in the resurrection.
 19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through hisdiligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. 

Why is spiritual knowledge important?
The following scripture were discussed among 6 different groups:

1) Psalms 119:105

 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

2) 2 Timothy 3: 15-17

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, forreproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

3) 2 Nephi 32: 3

 3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4) Helaman 3: 29-30

29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which isquick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrowcourse across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— 

 30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

5) D&C 19:23

23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.

6) D&C 88: 77-80

77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another thedoctrine of the kingdom. 

 78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructedmore perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; 

 79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of thenations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms— 

 80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnifythe calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.

How do we gain spiritual knowledge? (per discussion)

• Invest time
• Seek it and want it
• Ponder and pray
• Read the scriptures out loud
• Experiment on the word
• Search scriptures daily

Need for daily sustenance video: Daily Bread

“The things of God are understood by the Spirit of God. That Spirit is real. To those who have experienced its workings, the knowledge so gained is as real as that which is acquired through the operation of the five senses. I testify of this.” (President Hinckley) 

Lesson Summary June 8, 2014

Natalie M. led our discussion of Chapter 14: The Gift of the Holy Ghost in the Joseph Fielding Smith manual.

• When has the Spirit prompted you to help someone?

"The Spirit of God speaking to the spirit of man has power to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be imparted by personal contact even with heavenly beings." (Chapter 14: The Gift of the Holy Ghost)

• In what ways is communication to our spirits different from communication to our ears or our eyes? How is it more powerful?

"Every man can receive a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, even when he is out of the Church, if he is earnestly seeking for the light and for the truth. The Holy Ghost will come and give the man the testimony he is seeking, and then withdraw." (Chapter 14: The Gift of the Holy Ghost)

Elder Bednar described it as the beams of a sunrise.

• What are some differences between receiving a manifestation of the Spirit and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost?

"What a glorious privilege this is to be guided constantly by the Holy Ghost and to have the mysteries of the kingdom of God made manifest." (Chapter 14: The Gift of the Holy Ghost)

• In what ways have you been blessed through the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

• What can we do to prepare to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost?

"It is the privilege of every baptized person to have an abiding testimony of the restoration of the gospel, but this testimony will grow dim and eventually disappear unless we are constantly receiving spiritual good through study, obedience, and diligent seeking to know and understand the truth." (Chapter 14: The Gift of the Holy Ghost)

• How can parents teach their children to recognize and receive this guidance? How can we teach others about the Spirit?

LESSON SUMMARY JUNE 1, 2014

 WHAT RELIEF SOCIETY MEANS TO ME, taught by Sue A. 

Purposes

Gospel purpose -- Bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  

Moses 1:39

Church purpose --

1.  Provide saving ordinances & covenants that go with them

-baptism -- Mosiah 18:8-10

  -temple covenants -- gospel of love, chastity, sacrifice & law of consecration

Relief Society purpose --

History of RS -- founded in 1842 by Sisters who wanted to do good in their community.  Support the men working on the Nauvoo Temple.  Pattern at that time was to organize ladies societies with elected leaders, bylaws, etc.  They started to do that, but Prophet Joseph Smith came and said no -- don’t be a secular society.  Organize as part of the priesthood.  Once that had been done, the church was fully organized.

RELIEF part -- giving service and charity.  GIving to others -- inside and outside the church

   Q -- How have you received service thru RS?  Or given…..

• Sister Bliss discussed how her mother and family received a lot of help from the relief society when her mother was sick
• Susan explained her overwhelming support from the relief society during her recent difficult times
• Becca J explained how she got the relief society engaged in helping a non-member neighbor

   Q -- How would you like to see our PA2 RS give service -- inside and outside the church?

• Be open with what you need
• Accept help
• Be in tune with the spirit
• Be on lookout for those who might not have service otherwise

SOCIETY part -- we need sisters and friends

Q -- How have you made/kept friends thru RS?

• Stay in touch- make an effort

Externally we are lots of different kinds of women.  At All Hands Meeting in Feb, Catherine did chart of ages/marriages/kids, etc.  We are all over the map.

I’d like to mention some other ways that we are different, and yet the same.  

We look at life differently, and yet come to the same conclusion that we want to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and live His Gospel.

Happened in another context last week to re-read Richard Poll’s talk in PA1 Sacrament meeting in August 1967.  You can find it in several places on the internet.  

Liahona’s vs. Iron Rodders -- Some just grab the commandments and march forward.  Others have to ask and find their own way.  Both are equally faithful.  I love John Bytheway statement, “I have lots of questions, but I don’t have doubts.”    I feel that way, too because I’ve felt the spirit in my life and know that God lives.  I know that someday, somehow my questions will be answered.

This week I also listened to a Mormon Channel interview of Elder Perry and his wife by Sherri Dew.  Sister Perry said that she is more Martha than Mary.  Luke 10:38-42.   Some of us are good at sitting and holding hands and listening.  Some of us are better at making sure the meals are cooked and the laundry is done.  Both are necessary.

Pair share -- talk to a neighbor about your own attitudes and behaviors.  Do you feel like you are an iron-rod or a Liahona person?  Or do you identify more with Mary or with Martha?   Or can you see through your life how you have grown from one to another?

Share with the whole group

I come from a long line of RS Sisters.  My mother told me stories of playing on the lawn outside people’s homes when her mother made RS visits as President of Long Beach Ward and Stake RS.  I grew up watching my mother prepare to teach the Shakespeare lessons that they did in RS, and we all sewed things that were sold at the annual ward Bazaar.  I’ve become such good friends with women I have visit taught, and especially with my VT companions.  As we drive around town and share ways to serve our Sisters, we become closer.  We provide Relief and enjoy our society together.  It can’t get much better than that.

Thank you Nettie W, Katie S and Donna P for sharing your testimony about what RS means to you.

Thank you Sue for the wonderful lesson!