Lesson Summary: April 14, 2013

Lisa taught the following wonderful lesson:

Chapter 7: Faithfulness in Times of Trial: “From the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, 2011

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  IIf men are that we might have joy (2 Ne 2:25), why do we experience trials?

It is impossible for us to work out our salvation and accomplish the purposes of God without trials or without sacrifices (p.110)

In order to accomplish our exaltation and glory, [trials are] a necessary experience;

There is no other way in which the Saints can make spiritual improvement and be prepared for an inheritance in the celestial kingdom than through tribulation. It is the process by which knowledge is increased and peace will ultimately be established universally. It [has] been said that if all our surroundings were peaceful and prosperous now, we would become indifferent. It would be a condition that would be all that would be desired by a good many natures; they would not stretch out after the things of eternity.

Take it individually or take it collectively, we have suffered and we shall have to suffer again, and why? Because the Lord requires it at our hands for our sanctification.

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How do trials encourage us to reach out after the things of eternity?

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How do trials help accomplish the purposes of God?

… Salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? [Missionary Work and the Atonement, Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign March 2001]

As we remain faithful, the Lord strengthens us to overcome temptations and endure trials (p. 113)

Every man and woman who serves the Lord, no matter how faithful they may be, have their dark hours; but if they have lived faithfully, light will burst upon them and relief will be furnished.11

All that is required of us to make us perfectly safe under all circumstances of trouble or persecution, is to do the will of God, to be honest, faithful and to keep ourselves devoted to the principles that we have received; do right one by another; trespass upon no man’s rights; live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God and his Holy Spirit will aid and assist us under all circumstances, and we will come out of the midst of it all abundantly blessed in our houses, in our families, in our flocks, in our fields—and in every way God will bless us. He will give us knowledge upon knowledge, intelligence upon intelligence, wisdom upon wisdom.

May God add his blessing upon this people. May we be faithful to ourselves, faithful to all the principles we have received, seeking one another’s interests with all our heart, and God will pour out his Spirit upon us, and we will come off victorious in the end.

Looking back on difficult times, we see that our trials have helped us draw nearer to God (p. 114).

From my grandmother’s cross stitch:  “If all of your troubles were hung on a line, you would choose yours and I would choose mine.”

… we have afterwards discovered that those circumstances which have been very unpleasant have often proved of the highest advantage to us.

Every trial a man goes through, if he is faithful in that trial and does honor to God and his religion he has espoused, at the end of that trial or affliction that individual is nearer to God, nearer in regard to the increase of faith, wisdom, knowledge and power, and hence is more confident in calling upon the Lord for those things he desires… (p. 114)

The sacrifices you have made, the hardships you have endured and the privations you have suffered will … sink into insignificance, and you will rejoice that you have obtained the experience which they have furnished. … Some things we have to learn by that which we suffer, and knowledge secured in that way, though the process may be painful, will be of great value to us in the other life. … (p.115)

·      What have you learned from your trials that will be of value to you in the world to come?

·      How have your trials brought you closer to God and our Savior?

Lesson Summary: March 24, 2013

Today we heard from special guest Mary G. from the stake relief society presidency. Her lesson was based on the talk by Elder Bednar "Converted unto The Lord."

When she was growing up, she had neighbors who were members but were not at all active. The children went to church alone, walking to the nearby building. There was substance use and abuse in the home, and so she was always a bit afraid of these parents. This family moved to an area where the parents would need to drive the children to church. They began to stay at church and regain their testimony. Years later they moved back and there was a noticeable change in their countenance, attitude, and lives. What changed? Sisters speculated that they had been loved into the church; The new way of life was a happier way; The Spirit touched them, and became part of their lives.;They could start fresh in a new location. It requires effort to maintain a testimony, such as driving children to church, and it is that effort that actually changes our heart to conversion. 

How do we gain a testimony? Experiment upon the word in Alma 32. Have a spiritual witness of the truth and then you have to make a choice to believe. Elder Bednar suggest you ask, seek and knock with real intent to gain a testimony. You may have a lot of reasons to join the church. You may like the food storage program, you may like the charisma of a leader or like the social events, but that isn't a testimony that will last. The elements of a testimony include you know that Heavenly Father loves us and knows us, that Christ is our Savior and that the church has been restored. 

What does it mean to have a conversion? A conversion is a change. When you are converted you change. You change to accept The Lord and become a disciple of Christ. 

"The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ. Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God (see Alma 5:12–14). As we honor the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation (see D&C 20:25), “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20), and endure in faith to the end (see D&C 14:7), we become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony." - Elder Bednar

Alma 5: 12-14 

This passage demonstrates that conversion requires us to give our all. If we are not doing this our testimony and our conversion is going to be at risk. 

 Examples of conversion include Alma and the Sons of Mosiah and Paul who all had a complete change of heart, King Lamoni's father who is wiling to give up his sins to understand the truth, the Anti Lehi Nephis that had to sacrifice for their conversion, and Joseph Smith in his dedication during his trials. 

King Benjamin's people responded to his teaching by exclaiming: "Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty ^achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do ^bevil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2)

The key to knowing that we are converted is when we have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually. 

1. Believe in the teachings of the prophets

2. Exercising faith in Lord

3. Repenting

4. Experiencing a might change of heart

5. becoming "firm and steadfast in the faith" (see Helaman 15:7-8)

"Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter-day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living. Testimony is important and necessary but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need. Some members of the Church with testimonies have wavered and fallen away. Their spiritual knowledge and commitment did not measure up to the challenges they faced." - Elder Bednar

 

In Alma 23 we learn of the Sons of Mosiah did not fight against The Lord anymore. Those things in which we fight God are the essential barriers of conversion. 

"A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel...Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion." - Elder Bednar

 

What keeps us from being truly converted to the Gospel. Mary showed a replica of an oil lamp as in the parable of the 10 Virgins. It is very small and can't hold a lot of oil. 

[Begin quotation]

"I now want to use one of many possible interpretations of the parable of the ten virgins to highlight the relationship between testimony and conversion. Ten virgins, five who were wise and five who were foolish, took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Please think of the lamps used by the virgins as the lamps of testimony. The foolish virgins took their lamps of testimony but took no oil with them. Consider the oil to be the oil of conversion.

“But the wise took oil [of conversion] in their vessels with their lamps [of testimony].

“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [of testimony].

“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil [even the oil of conversion]; for our lamps [of testimony are weak and] are gone out.

“But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:4–9).

Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed? Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The clear answer to each of these questions is no." - Elder Bednar

[end quotation]

We must keep our own lamp burning, obtaining oil one drop at a time, consistently and line upon line. When trials come this will save our testimony and help us to stay close to our Savior. 

Lesson Summary, March 17th

Sara started by asking how we were all feeling today. Optimistic? Hopeful?

Why? Because the lesson was on perfection!

During a meeting in the early church President Snow was among missionaries that were poor presenters. He related that he was once a very poor public speaker and promised them that through effort and with the help of The Lord we can overcome and receive help for any problem we have.

President Snow taught that we can become like God. Therefore the command to be perfect. Are you troubled by this command to be perfect? Or have you given up on the commandment? Comments from sisters included: It helps to know we have the potential, but we can do so in increments. We don't have to be perfect all at once, today. Perfect means complete or whole; it isn't that we need to the best in everything, it is that we have received all the ordinances and kept our covenants. Eternity is long, we have a long time to do this. President Hinkley taught that there is always room to be a little more...a little nicer, patient...striving to be just a little better. One sister shared that the concept used to stress her, but then she realized that if God expected us to be perfect by ourselves there would be no Atonement. What it means is to do all that we can, to do our best, but Christ is our partner in this endeavor. 

In the 80s there was a perception that women were all to do everything, make our children's clothes and bake our bread, and... do everything. Cheiko Okasaki taught us then to stop it. We don't need to do it all. Lately Elder Uchdorf taught us to be patient with ourselves, to make sure where we are striving is where it is actually the important, to be happy now and to remember that The Lord loves us. 

Alonzo Gaskill has written a book called Odds Are You are Going to Be Exalted. The plan is meant for us all to be able to succeed, and not for us to be stressed by the idea of perfection. He talked about the temple recommend interview. The final question that you are asked is whether you are worthy to enter the temple in every way. One time he answered "Absolutely!" His stake president was taken aback, but noted how true that answer was. Most people point out their imperfection and attempts instead of acknowledging that they are worthy. 

President Snow said that we can be perfect in this life in small spheres. In the Bible, we see Abraham with perfect willingness to sacrifice as did many of the early saints.

Are you comfortable saying that you are perfect in any small sphere? We might be perfect in accepting our imperfection. We may have moments of perfection. There may be things that aren't a problem anymore - word of wisdom, some of the 10 commandments, coming to church. 

If we are reluctant to feel that we are good enough, it is a reflection of how we think God looks at us. We can see the gaps, and if we dwell on them we distort how God sees us. If we see The Lord as our Savior, then we understand how God sees us. We can feel hopeful about being perfect and see our worth. 

The plan of salvation is not called the plan of damnation. It is called the plan of happiness. We were happy to participate even though we knew we would have imperfections. The Savior provided the needed stop gap. 

We can seek the influence of the Spirit in our lives. If we are thinking about becoming better day by day, then we are really talking about having the Spirit. The Sprit can teach us, prompt us, comfort us, and give us hope. 

“I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured being.  Why?  Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have his Spirit.”  (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4:222)