Lesson Recap: December 16th

Today Lisa shared her thoughts on the lesson, "Bringing up children in light and truth".

This week we have all had tender thoughts about children and a desire to draw in our children close and protect them the best we can, both.

As Paul prophesied, we live in “perilous times.” ¹ “Satan [has been going] about, leading away the hearts of the people,” ² and his influence is increasing. But no matter how evil the world becomes, our families can be at peace. If we do what’s right, we will be guided and protected.

The hymn often sung by our pioneer ancestors tells us what to do: “Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. / Our God will never us forsake.” ³ That courage and faith is what we need as parents and families in these latter days. - Robert D. Hales

 

There is a story in the manual about a father who tells his children that he must finish his chores before he went to the city. When he went to the city all that was open was the saloons or other poor settings. These people are those that took him in . A second boy went to his father also asked to go to the city. This father also required chores to be done, but volunteered to help and then to accompany his son to the city so they could go before dark. His father introduced his to his friends and they welcomed him. When he grew older and went into town it was these people that he interacted with.

What do we do to help our children have good experiences or to learn?

One sister shared that her parents always wanted her to accompany them on errands, which created time to share and interact. Reducing too many carpools to have that time together. Have family vacations be family vacations where we interact together. One sister described a surprise trip. Fun activities together like making movies. Dates with kids or grandchildren. Letting kids help with chores or cooking dinner. Being there "at the crossroads."

"There is no time that you can spend, no way in which you can utilize your time that will be of greater advantage than training your boys and your girls to be worthy of the blessing of our Heavenly Father." George Albert Smith

"Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations." - The Family:A Proclamation to the World

What are the best ways to bring kids up in light and truth. Teach children love and righteousness and serve one another. Show them through your service to others. Instill a love of scriptures gently. Be honest with kids about the struggles of faith we might face and allow them to find their own way. Help them to identify the blessing and Spirit when it does come. Having both parents involved.

“We advise and urge the inauguration of a ‘Home Evening’ throughout the Church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the word of the Lord. … This ‘Home Evening’ should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, Scripture reading, family topics, and specific instruction on the principles of the gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligations of children to parents, the home, the Church, society, and the nation.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 22: Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth)

What makes family home evening successful? Start and end in prayer, use the scriptures, add music, make it fun, be consistent, add variety. Keep it simple. Treats are always welcome. Www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening. The stake President has suggested that our family home  evenings to be based on For the Strength of Youth.

“If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 22: Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth)

Lesson Recap: December 9th

Today we heard from Sara on the topic of The Power of Kindness. (Note: I apologize for the spotty recap as my little guy decided Mommy was more fun than nursery).

Kindness is a skill that we learn as we grow. When we are kind we are choosing to be unselfish, humble, not to take offense, to see others as God would see them, to hold our tongue, to see the best in others, and to have peace.

The lesson covers four tenets:

1. Spirit of The Lord is the Spirit of Kindness

2. Look for the virtues of others offer sincere praise

3. Kindness has a power to lead people away from their mistakes.

4. Kindness in our homes can lead our children to our counsel.

"Kindness is the power that God has given us to unlock hard hearts and subdue stubborn souls and bring them to an understanding of His purposes."

"Young man, remember all he days if your life that you can find good in everyone if you will but look for it."

"I pray that the love of the gospel of our Lord will burn in our souls and enrich our lives, that it will cause husbands to be kinder to wives, and wives to be kinder to husbands, parents to children, and children to parents because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a gospel of love and kindness." 

We are bound as members of our church to be the best in the kingdom of God.

George Albert Smith said, "Every influence for peace ought to be exercised. Lucifer is exercising every means to destroy the souls of the human family. He is more active than he has ever been and he works in such an insidious way. I will not take time to enumerate the many ways he employs but there is one way in which he operates, and has operated from the beginning of the world, and that is to tempt one individual to destroy the reputation of another by saying unkind things of them." He then admonishes us to not be critical or unkind.

Mark 2:17. They that whole need not a physician but them that are sick.

John 8:7. He that is without sin among you let him cast the first stone.

Matthew 18:15

Proverbs 15:1. A ^asoft ^banswer turneth away ^cwrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

President Gordon B. Hinckley:  "Treat your children as sons and daughters of God. Be kind. Love them. Respect them.  Counsel with them. Teach them. Pray for them. Guide them and god will bless both them and you."

Lesson Recap: November 18

Today we heard from Lisa on the topic of Temporal Salvation for Ourselves and Others.

Lisa began with quotes from survivors of superstorm Sandy - some that were prepared and some that were not. These are relevant examples of how we have been counseled to be wise stewards of all that we have been given.

How have we been counseled to be wise stewards?

"… This people have been advised to conserve their energies and their means. We have been taught by those whom the Lord has raised up to instruct us that we should live within our income, that we should not follow the fashions of the world and expend as rapidly and even more rapidly than we can earn the money that comes into our hands, to take care of ourselves and our families. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 20: Temporal Salvation for Ourselves and Others)

"Some individuals … are disposing of their holdings and spending their money for unnecessary things, and if hard times come, they may find themselves unable to meet their obligations. "(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 20: Temporal Salvation for Ourselves and Others)

 Have been asked to live within our incomes, avoid debt. Are there things in our lives that we are spending more money than we should?

One sister shared that they did things that created experiences for their family rather than just to have more stuff. We have been advised to conserve our energy to serve other people.

'“Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!” (D&C 56:16.)

That is what the Lord says of the rich people who refuse to impart of their substance to those who are poor. But he says something just as serious to the poor man who is not doing his best. He says:

“Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!” (D&C 56:17.) …

We must not fall into the bad habits of other people. We must not get into the frame of mind that we will take what the other man has. Refer back to the ten commandments, and you will find one short paragraph, “Thou shalt not covet.” [Exodus 20:17.] … (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 20: Temporal Salvation for Ourselves and Others)"

Once our own house is in order, how do we care for others?

How do we develop when we serve others in needs? Why does God ask us to serve and to earn our living rather than just giving it to us?

We begin to understand the Atonement more, by requiring us to rely on the Spirit more. Sometimes when we go through experiences ourselves we can better help others. We become more like our Savior. If we want to become like our Father in Heaven we have to learn to be generous.

 "If you have paid an honest tithing, I may say without hesitation the other nine-tenths has been a greater blessing to those who have paid than the one hundred percent has been to those who have not. It is the Lord’s work. … Men could not have done this. With all your generosity and all your giving, all your missionary work, with your care of the poor, … with all that you have been giving as ordinary people, I testify that what you have left brings to you more happiness, more peace, more comfort and more assurance of eternal life than any other people in the world enjoy today." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 20: Temporal Salvation for Ourselves and Others)

Marian G. Romney (1971) challenged us to increase our generosity. He promised that if we would double our fast offerings or other offerings, that the spirituality would double.

Lisa shared than when we first heard this she acted on it and then her income doubled. Once again she did so and her income doubled, but in reality this is a spiritual promise. Catherine shared that she worried about having enough energy to serve as President and as a mother. Se has felt the compensatory blessings with increased peace in her home.

Mother Teresa said,  “Mother, I have been touching the body of Christ for three hours.”  “How? What did you do?” Mother Teresa asked her. “When I arrived there,” the novice replied, “they brought in a man who had fallen into a drain, and been there for some time. He was covered with dirt and had several wounds. I washed him and cleaned his wounds. As I did so I knew I was touching the body of Christ.”

RS Recap: November 11

Today Sarah shared thoughts on the Word of Wisdom.

We have many stories in gospel history of people adhering to dietary restrictions in obedience to God. In the Old Testament Daniel refuses meat that he was commanded not to eat, and was blessed for his actions.

In 2010, Sara was able to go on a church history tour, including the Newell K. Whitney store. It was above this store the revelation of the Word of Wisdom was received.  In that store was held the School of the Prophets, where the men frequently used tobacco. In reaction to that environment, Joseph inquired about the care of the body. The revelation is found in Doctrine and Covenants 89.

The scriptures offer insights into how this law is related to spiritual laws. The Lord see no difference between a spiritual law and a temporal law. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, D&C 29:34)

"I look upon the Word of Wisdom as kind advice of our Father in heaven, who desires to see His children become more like Him. … I take it as the fatherly counsel of one who, knowing what I needed, said to me: 'My son, these things are not good for you, and if you will avoid them I will give you the companionship of my Holy Spirit and joy while you live in the world and in the end eternal life.' " - George Albert Smith

Under this law we don't drink wine or strong drinks, tobacco or hot drinks (tea or coffee). We do eat herbs and plants and use meat sparingly. D&C 59:16-17.

"The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to prepare us to understand the beauty of life as the Lord has indicated it should be lived, by telling us how we may avoid the things that are destroying the world." - George Albert Smith

RS Lession Recap: The Power of Grace

Today we heard from Heather on the topic of The Power of Grace.

 

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

 

In 2011 President Uchtdorf related the a parable of a man that scrimpted to buy passage on a cruise ship. During that cruise he envied those that could attend all of the events and fine dining, as he hadn't any money left to do so. Only at the end of the cruise did he find that all of those activities were included in the fare he had already paid.

 

We all have the grace of Christ available to us - Christ has paid the fare - but if we don't access them we will miss out.

 

Hebrews 4:16 say "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

 

In the Bible Dictionary we learn that grace is the Devine means of strength or help to do things that we cannot do on our own. It is an enabling power.

 

What does it mean to have an enabling power?

• It keeps us from being frozen into uselessness.
• We understand that we cannot do enough right, but we know that through grace we can have hope to do better.
• Our works are our gifts to Christ to show that we accept his grace.
• We think about the Atonement as being only a means of being forgiven, but it really allows us to do more than we could otherwise.
• To be enabled means that we already have nascent capabilities within us and allows us to overcome barriers to accessing those capabilities.
• When we feel hurt we can just allow The Lord to heal us instead of dwelling on hurt.
• You + God = enough. This equation may be better stated as a mutliplying effect. 
• If we give ourself wholly unto Him and understand all that He has to offer, we will feel the very close relationship we can have with our Savior and the grace will become real in our lives.

 In 1 Nephi 7, Nephi is given physical power to break the bands through the grace of Christ. Alma and his people in Mosiah are able to carry their burdens through their belief in Christ.

How do we come boldly to the Throne of Grace? We can come up with our own framework by looking back on the times we have felt the grace of God and identify our personalized principles for coming unto Christ.

Lesson Summary October 21

Stay on the Lord's side of the line. (Lesson 18) 

By Lisa H.

George Albert Smith’s grandfather George A. Smith served for many years in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and in the First Presidency as a counselor to Brigham Young. George Albert Smith often repeated the counsel his grandfather used to give to his family: “There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s territory. If you will stay on the Lord’s side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of that line one inch you are in the tempter’s power and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord.” -George Albert Smith

How do we know that we are on the Lord's side of the line?

On the Lord's side: you will have no more desire to do evil, having a love for everyone, we have the companionship of the best men and women in the world, we will have influence on others to do the right thing. Invite us to do good and to believe in Christ. Safety, righteousness and happiness. 

On the Devil's side: no clear thought or reason because you have lost the Spirit, refusal to see the truth. Persuade to do evil and to deny Christ. Rationalize our actions or make exceptions to the commandment. 

There is a litmus test in Moroni 7:16-17.

"All safety, all righteousness, all happiness are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you are keeping the commandments... If you love your neighbor as yourself, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. ...all that enriches our lives and makes us happy and prepares us for eternal joy is on the Lord’s side of the line. Finding fault with the things that God has given to us for our guidance is not on the Lord’s side of the line. " -George Albert Smith

Sometimes we might feel that the commandments are so strict and restrictive but we soon see quite the opposite. 

"You observe people running to and fro in the world, seeking happiness but not finding it. If they would only pause long enough to accept the Lord’s advice happiness would follow, but they will find it in no other way.

Now to me the laws of the Lord, so-called, the counsels contained in the Holy Scriptures, the revelations of the Lord to us in this day and age of the world, are but the sweet music of the voice of our Father in heaven in His mercy to us. They are but the advice and counsel of a loving parent, who is more concerned in our welfare than earthly parents can be, and consequently that which at one time seemed to bear the harsh name of law to me is now the loving and tender advice of an all-wise Heavenly Father." -George Albert Smith

Shari Dew said:

"But if he can't get us to succumb to blatant evil, the adversary tries to coax us onto his side of the line by resorting to strategies that slowly wear us down, weaken our resolve, and dim our memory of who we are. See if any of these sound familiar. Lucifer whispers that it doesn't matter what we do now, that there is plenty of time later to get our spiritual act together. It is the Sin Now, Pay Later Plan. He feeds our vanity with promises of popularity, power, and prosperity. He tells us what we want to hear: that life is supposed to be easy and fun and that if we experience pain or undeserved difficulties the gospel must not be working. He always promotes shortcuts, though there are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.
He wants us to compare ourselves to others and then to criticize and judge one another. He numbs us to a sliding scale of morality so that we eventually embrace behaviors that repulsed us earlier. He wants us to believe that anything short of blatant immorality is just sport—no harm, no foul. He wants us so absorbed with school, dating, and careers that we don't have time to really live the gospel—to learn how to receive answers to prayer, to immerse ourselves in the scriptures, and to go to the temple. He rejoices in even small breaches in our integrity because he knows that unless checked they will ultimately lead us "away carefully down to hell"...."

"And others will he ^apacify, and lull them away into carnal ^bsecurity, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the ^cdevil ^dcheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell." (2 Nephi 28:21)

How does the devil "cheat our souls " and lead us carefully down to hell?

Sometimes when you make bad choices it is hard to feel like there is a way back and to find hope in repentance. Sometimes the Devil can distract us by making others things more important. He can convince us that selfishness is the right way to live. Focusing on the grey areas and how close can we get to the edge of the "cliff".  He makes you believe that you are gaining something when you are in fact losing something. Satan is still trying to get control one step at a time. 

Choosing an uplifting atmosphere is essential to stay on the right side of the line. We all have detectors in our house that will sound an alarm if there is toxic smoke or carbon monoxide. We likewise have to have the same sort of alarm for whether or not a situation is a good one or our choices are leading us away from the Lord's side. 

Lesson Summary: Sept 30

Toady we combined with the Priesthood and heard from the Bishop on being a prepared servant for our Father in Heaven. In the vision of the tree of life, Nephi tells us that the fruit of the tree was the sweetest of all fruits. The fruit is the love of God and when we feel that in our lives it is truly the sweetest feeling. We can share that fruit with others.

We are living in the time of the gathering of Israel. It is the Lords gathering and he is preparing his people.

"The Lord trusts His true disciples. He sends prepared people to His prepared servants. You have had the experience, as have I, of meeting people where you were sure the meeting could not have been by chance." - Henry B. Eyring

If we are prepared servants, then we are able to have experiences such as Elder Eyring, meeting people that we are sure is not chance.

Several members shared their experiences of meetings and opportunities that filled this promise. Whether it be chance meetings with strangers, casual discussions with friends, or contacting lost friends these members were all prepared to share the Gospel. They could tell about a church program such as genealogy, or share pamphlets or media. All were open to the Spirit to understand what the needs are in that situation. God knows each of us and wants to connect us together.

We need to prepare our hearts. One way of doing that is to create patterns in our life.

How do we prepare ourselves and think about our interactions with others. Changing our attitudes from sharing the Gospel to sharing ourselves can change our hearts. In this way this sharing works into our lives in a way that is seamless.

The Bishop discussed four types of parenting styles. One may confront the child for disrupting sleep, another may ignore, another tells the child that there is nothing to work around, and the fourth effective style is one that picks up the child and listens to their fears, then stands with them as they confront those fears. This is how we should approach our interactions with others, we should listen to what they need and the stand with them as they discover.

We can extend ourselves by taking the time to simply talk to our neighbors instead of rushing by, by asking for help from our neighbors, or being willing to share ourselves. We should approach the people around us with faith hope charity and love. We don't need wisdom or bravery etc. All we need is faith hotel charity and love. Our relationships should not be based on our expectation of converting people but simply based in love. If it is right then the fruits will come, but we must trust in The Lord of the vineyard to provide the growth that is prepared to be received.

If we are prepared to receive and love others then the Bishopric has felt that we can see fruit come. If we can be an inviting people. We have been challenged to make an invitation a week, anything from walking the dog to going to the temple.

RS Lesson Recap: September 23

Today Tori shared thoughts from the talk from Elder Wilson, entitled "Only upon the Principles of Righteousness" 

The talk starts off with a story about the young newlywed couple on a car trip. This story shows the concept unrighteousness dominion. This reduces the power from heaven. We cannot force others to do the right thing because it is not God's way.

"We simply cannot force others to do the right thing. The scriptures make it clear that this is not God’s way. Compulsion builds resentment. It conveys mistrust, and it makes people feel incompetent. Learning opportunities are lost when controlling persons pridefully assume they have all the right answers for others." - Elder Wilson

This year the theme for primary was agency. It is an important concept that children must be able to choose. We learn how to foster this concept of agency with leading and parenting our children.

"Wise parents must weigh when children are ready to begin exercising their own agency in a particular area of their lives. But if parents hold on to alldecision-making power and see it as their “right,” they severely limit the growth and development of their children.

Our children are in our homes for a limited time. If we wait until they walk out the door to turn over to them the reins of their moral agency, we have waited too long. They will not suddenly develop the ability to make wise decisions if they have never been free to make any important decisions while in our homes. Such children often either rebel against this compulsion or are crippled by an inability to make any decisions on their own." - Elder Wilson

Several sisters shared their thoughts on raising children by righteous principles. We never have to rely on the phrase, "because we say so." We can rely on the scriptures to back us up. In the words of Joseph Smith we "Teach correct principles and allow <them> govern themselves. Out Father in Heaven is our example. He doesn't take away the consequences when we sin, but he always loves us. Kids are different. Some will more naturally obey and some will be more resistant, but we should still teach the principles like prayer. These are the tools for everyone. We can incorporate this concept in daily life as we set consequences for behavior but we allow children to make the choice. We also should teach them the blessings of being obedient. The framework must be set. See Doctrine and Covenants 82:8-10.

One sister shared that she felt that she wasn't punished, but her parents expressed their disappointment. One day her father told her that "the trust bank was empty". That made a significant impact on her.

George Albert Smith said in his creed that he would not force people to choose the right but love them into doing so.

If we are going to help those in our stewardships make the all-important link with heaven, we must be the kind of parent and leader described in Doctrine and Covenants, section 121. We must act “only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.”⁹President Henry B. Eyring has said, “Of all the help we can give … young people, the greatest will be to let them feel our confidence that they are on the path home to God and that they can make it.” - Elder Wilson

Sometimes we want to take over to fix things for those we love. When we jump in we are not just failing to trust that person but we are not trusting The Lord. He loves all of us and he will let us know when we need to jump in.

One of the most difficult part if stewardship is understanding where agency ends and stewardship   Begins. The answer was trust The Lord. Children do not always choose the right, but remember that the choices children make are not always the final choices.

"Respect Agency. A governing doctrine of the universe, applicable in all ages including the eternities before God formed this earth, is that God has granted to people their agency—the right to choose between good and evil. Because we have agency, it is fair and just that we account to him for our use of it, whether good or bad. If we had no agency, God would be responsible for us and everything we did, which would result in our never really knowing the depth of our personal convictions regarding either good or evil.

This is not a neutral world. Good and evil bombard us and our children. Teaching our children correct principles allows them to make informed choices. But when children make choices contrary to gospel teachings, they always suffer the consequences, some of which are serious. In theDoctrine and Covenants we read, “My people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer (D&C 105:6; emphasis added)." - "When Our Children Go Astray" - Elder Carmack, Ensign 1997

In 1929 Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “You parents of the wilful and the wayward! Don’t give them up. Don’t cast them off. They are not utterly lost. The Shepherd will find his sheep. They were his before they were yours—long before he entrusted them to your care; and you cannot begin to love them as he loves them. They have but strayed in ignorance from the Path of Right, and God is merciful to ignorance. Only the fulness of knowledge brings the fulness of accountability. Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is mightier in power to save than our narrow finite minds can comprehend” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).

RS Recap: Sept 16th

Chapter 16: "Offer up thy sacraments upon my Holy Day"

Sara was garden yesterday afternoon and she could hear her neighbors over the fence singing. As a conservative Jewish family, they were observing their Sabbath.

As a young adult she was able to spend a semester abroad in Jerusalem. There are three Sabbaths in Jerusalem for the 3 major religions. On Friday afternoons if you were in the Jewish part of town there was a bustle to prepare for the Sabbath. It was a wonderful feeling to be in a place where all people kept the Sabbath and she was able to observe the parrallels with the Jewish Sabbath and our Sabbath.

Jewish concept of the Sabbath as joy. To miss the joy is to miss it all. Centered in the creation story (then repeated as law in the 10 commandments). God himself rested. Jews say God still created on the Sabbath, he created “tranquility”. The Sabbath is the reward for all creative endeavor. It is what all creation was designed for. “The Sabbath has kept the Jews”, through out their history: loss of prophets, temple, land, dispersal across the globe---they have retained the tradition of the Sabbath and they have retained their identity. “To make a man forget he is a son of a king is a great evil”. On the Sabbath we remember we are sons and daughters of a king. Your ability to work the other six days of the week is enhanced by not working on the Sabbath. Even Pharoh let the slaves rest. The Jews have several concepts of the Sabbath we can learn from: It is a sanctuary in time. It takes discipline to prepare for it. It requires special dress, tablecloth, food.

mother is responsible for an atmosphere of reverence in the home, to create a mood of joy. Husband and children help, but she does most of thepreparation. Covering her head with a scarf, the mother lights the Sabbath candles within a few minutes of sundown and waving her arms to welcome in the Sabbath---a beginning of sacred time in She makes a special woven bread called challah. The two strands symbolizes the law and the prophets or again, remember and observe.

One the Sabbath the family attends services and the return to the center of the Sabbath - the home. They bless and pass the bread on the Sabbath. They then fill a cup with wine to overflowing, as a symbol of God's blessing and pass that. The Father may read scriptures or give blessings on the Sabbath. They discuss the week, share stories and sing. 

If we think about the time of the Savior, there is a lot of trouble over the Sabbath. He was often caught up in discussion about doing incorrect actions. He taught the Sabbath was for man not man for the Sabbath, to miss the joy is to miss the meaning of the Sabbath. It takes discipline to prepare of the Sabbath. It is a day when heaven and Earth unite and we can relate with our Father in Heaven. The Sabbath is a feast, the best meal of the week, the poor are welcome to share as is the stranger. By
resting on the Sabbath, we are reminded that we are free-- the Sabbath frees us from our weekly concerns and schedules. During the week we are slaves to our jobs, creditors, to providing for our needs.

In class we discussed the traditions that we have for the Sabbath. One sister shared that growng up in her famly women didn't wear pants on Sunday or in other words they wore Sunday clothes all day to help to remember that it was the Sabbath. Some keep electronics off or only use devices to help us remember the Lord. There is a time to prepare a meal together. It may be a simple meal but it is a time to spend time together and talk with family. Some discuss what they learned in church that day. Some play sacred music all the time. It is a sacrifice to not play sports or attend parties on Sunday, but others see how important it is to us.

1. The Sabbath is a Hallowed, Holy day. To hallow is to : respect, honor, greatly revere, to set apart as holy. To be holy is to be sacred, whole, solemn, set apart, to sanctify, pure.

Ezekiel 20:20 “… hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you,
that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.”

Isaiah 58: 13-14 “…turn away from doing thy own pleasure on my holy day and call
the Sabbath a delight….”

George Albert Smith's mother taught him, “you will be happier if you do not do that”. He  wanted to play ball with his friends on Sunday after church. Rather than say “no you can’t do that”, his mother
encouraged him to think of the Sabbath as a blessing, not a burden and keep it holy.

2. Attending church is an important part of keeping the Sabbath holy.

Moroni 6:5-6---names are taken and we meet to be nourished by the good word of God and to speak of the welfare of our souls.

Matthew 18:20---where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them. We need to be together to strengthen and serve each other.

D&C 59:9-15: to keep thyself unspotted from the world, rest from labor and go to house of prayer and pay thy devotions to God. Do it with cheer and a glad heart.

3. Partaking of the emblems of the sacrament is a sacred privilege.

3 Nephi 18:1-12: “if ye do this ye are built upon my rock”

4. Partaking of the sacrament worthily renews and increases our spiritual strength. George Albert Smith  observed that men and women who go from year to year without taking the sacrament “gradually lose the Spirit”

1 Corinthians 11:23-30 reminds us that the sacrament is a time for “a man to examine himself”. George Albert Smith counsels us: hands should be clean, hearts pure, divested of all enmity toward our associates, be at peace with fellow man, have within our hearts a desire to do the will of God and keep his commandments. Take the sacrament with humility.

Thought Questions:

What can you do in your home to show greater reverence for the Sabbath?
How can we help our families see the Sabbath as a blessing (not a burden)?
How would all society benefit from honoring the Sabbath?
What are the benefits you gain from worshipping together each week?
How do you make the ordinance of the sacrament more meaningful?
How can you help your children do this?
What qualifies you to take the sacrament worthily?
How does this increase your spiritual strength each week?

Lesson Summary: September 2nd

Today Catherine shared thoughts about relief society and finding our meaning.

She bagen by posing the question, "What think ye of Christ?" Christ posed this question to the thinkers of the day. How do our thoughts of Christ shape our day and direct our actions.

One venue to come to know Christ and ourselves is the Relief Society, an organization run in conjunction with the priesthood. What is the greatest desire of our Bishop? "That the members of the ward will seek to know from God what next step He wants for them to take and then to have courage to take it."

The Holy Ghost is the only mechanism to come to know this. John 14:26, Moroni 10:5, 2 Nephi 32:5.

When Catherine was in graduate school she desired to take a very challenging semester of courses, which her father advised here not to do. However she felt close to the Spirit and knew it was right and she was successful.

"It is as obligatory upon a woman to draw into her life the virtues that are fostered by the Relief Society as it is an obligation for the men to build into their lives the patterns of character fostered by the priesthood." - Boyd K. Packer

 

We are to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen home and families, assist those in need. The kingpin is the powerr of the relief society.

"There is a power in this organization that has not yet been fully exercised to strengthen the homes of Zion and build the Kingdom of God—nor will it until both the sisters and the priesthood catch the vision of Relief Society." - Spencer W. Kimball

“Cannot you see why the Lord has put it upon the … Relief Society to visit these homes? Because, next to the Master himself, there are none in [the] Church who have a more lovely touch, a more complete understanding of the hearts and the lives of these individuals. -Harold B. Lee

“There are many sisters who are living in rags—spiritual rags. They are entitled to gorgeous robes, spiritual robes. … It is your privilege to go into homes and exchange robes for rags.” - Spencer W. Kimball 

By reaching out and serving others we can see just how much he loves you. One sister shared about an impression she received when a friend in need came to visit to bring together friends to sing hymns of comfort and clear direction.

The Lord's work is light. When we go to provide service and we get momentum to move into the realm of God, overcoming our natural selves, the service feels easy and light.

As you consider the way you want to minister remember the many ways you are a leader, in your families, communities, workplace and elsewhere. See the leadership training http://www.lds.org/service/leadership.

We need to make our visiting teaching a soulful experience that both we and our sisters feel.

There was a special speaker in priesthood today to speak about finding balance in life. This is a good opportunity to discuss with husbands or others about our relationships.

Heather C. has been called to be a counselor in the Relief Society. She recounted a dream in which she was shown a humble shack and told it was her house. While at first dismayed, she then felt that she was grateful and could fix it up. As she worked a man came and asked her what she was doing. When she told him that this was her house he insisted that it was not. He then guided her to a beautiful mansion that was her house. Likewise we are not shacks, but are mansions. When we keep the commandments, feel of Christ in our life and feel his guidance we can recognize that.

Kim H. was called as a counselor in the area of community service and missionary work.The stake is now focusing on service and community service to share the gospel through those means. "The For, brethren, ye have been called unto ^aliberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love ^bserve one another (Gal. 5:13)". The Mormon Helping Hands shows our love for others.

Tori bore her testimony of finding God's desire for our lives. As she prepared for law school she knew it was the right thing, but it was difficult. As she took the LSAT the words of "How Firm a Foundation" came to mind. Through a tumultuous 3 years of law school that hymn and the scriptures from whence they were derived Joshua 1. The Relief Society and visiting teaching have been integral in feeling the support of the Lord.