Lesson Summary: February 26th

Lisa H. discussed Sister Barbara Thompsons talk Personal Revelation and Testimony. 

First we discussed the patterns of revelation. When sister Thompson was young she recognized the Spirit when she listened to general conference. She also related some do and do not in personal revelation. 

First we discussed the "Do nots" of revelation. 1 Nephi 15:8-11

• Do not fail to ask the Lord and do not harden your heart.
• Do not underestimate your worthiness.
• Remember to ask and not to lean too much unto our own understanding.

  

What is the happy medium between seeking guidance and not requiring ourselves to be commanded in all things?  

• If we have already been taught these things then probably don't ask again. Ask but then keep going.
• Don't wait or be paralyzed to be good things.
• Pray always so we know what we need to do without needing to be micromanaged.
• We are told that if we are living the commandments we can be confident that what we are doing is the right thing.
• Finding pauses to listen and not be too busy to hear.
• Recognize the source of revelation so we can feel empowered to feel that you can feel revelation.
• We can feel more motivated when we are receiving revelation with the intent to help those around us.
• He will not reveal things over and over again, we have to remember those things and have the confidence going forward. 

We have to study in order to see revelation (1 Nephi 11:1) Nephi finds himself pondering the words of his father and then he received revelation.

We are promised that if we will desire that he will give us relevation. This happens when we go to the Lord with a specific question. 

D&C 6:14. We can receive instruction in prayer. 

D&C 6:15 We can be enlightened by the spirit of truth.

D&C 6:23 We can receive peace

D&C 8:2-3 It will tell our heart and mind

D&C 9:8 If we study it out we will feel a burning in our bosom. 

D&C 11:13 We will receive joy.

She closed with the quote from Sister Snow and her testimony that as we work toward revelation in our lives we will have the strength and insight to live righteously. 

Sister Eliza R. Snow was given a charge from the prophet Brigham Young to help lift and teach the sisters of the Church. She “taught that individual women could receive inspiration to guide them in their personal lives, their families, and their Church responsibilities. She said: ‘Tell the sisters to go forth and discharge their duties, in humility and faithfulness and the Spirit of God will rest upon them and they will be blest in their labors. Let them seek for wisdom instead of power and they will have all the power they have wisdom to exercise.’”¹¹

Lesson Summary, February 19

Today's lesson was taught by Sarah G. on Our Testimony Of Jesus Christ. She began by explaining her goals 1. To remind you of what you already know and 2. To help you find a new way to share what you already know.

Three stories were shared:

In the 1920s a young President Smith found when traveling some people wouldn't believe that Mormons were Christian. On one trip to Canada he overheard a conversation where one person was trying to convince another woman that Mormons were not Christian. That woman had just heard President Smith speak and declared that this couldn't be true because she just heard a beautiful and pure testimony of Christ.

Janice Kapp Perry is a composer that has written many modern primary and religious songs. In the 1980s she sent some song to a Christian publishing house and she received a letter back saying that since she was from Utah they would not consider be because she didn't believe in Christ. She was shocked and stunned, because the words of her songs clearly testified of Christ.

President Hinkley agreed to be interviewed by Mike Wallace, a hard hitting reporter. In fact Mr. Wallace wrote the preface to President Hinkley's book and wrote about how he was touched by President Hinkley.

What would you say if someone says that Mormons are not Christian. One sister related how she was corrected by Elders that tracted into her house and they noted that the name of our church contains the name of Christ. Another sister recalled how someone asked them if she was saved and she replied that she believes in Christ as her Savior. years later her son was serving in the mission in the same area as this woman, and he had the opportunity to testify to her.

One sister was asked to share how she personally has come to know how Jesus Christ lives. When she was in her late 20s the AIDS epidemic was emerging. She worked in a club where the first young man that died of AIDS in the Bay Area attended. She was scared and in the midst of this knew she needed more. When the missionaries came to her door she turned them away. However she met members, one of whom had overcome alcoholism with the church. One night she felt like she was in a well and in despair, and a voice told her that there was a way out. She could overcome her addictions and she knew that Jesus lived and that he knew her name. Jesus pulled her out, and even since then when she has made mistakes, Jesus has been there and has helped her back on track.

1. He is the Son of God. he lives today as our resurrected savior.

2. We accept the bibles testimony of his divine mission.

3. The Book of Mormon and a testimony of Joseph Smith give us additional evidence.

4. Each of us can gain a personal testimony.

5. Our mission is to share all people what we know about Jesus Christ.

Another sister shared her love of the passage in 3 Nephi 17, which strengthens her testimony to know that he cared for the little children so much and that he blessed the people one by one.  

How do we build a testimony? Many of us gain it from our childhood and the examples of others.

One sister shared how she helps her children gain a testimony. She noted that she feels it is essential to share through example daily, by sharing the "why" of our actions that are motivated by our testimony, by being honest about the struggle of gaining and maintaining a testimony with children and accept their struggles, and to personalize the teaching to the child. She closed by noting that a testimony is the most precious thing and the only thing that can keep children away from spiritual harm.

Another sister discussed her experience in sharing her testimony on her mission. She shared a story about a man who had been excommunicated and we working toward rebaptism. He was so excited and enthusiastic about everything. This was unique because she saw just the first steps, but a little over a year later she saw him at the temple. That was a message about the cycle of testimony and how it is deep and beautiful.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell shared four things that we must do to keep our testimony: 1. Pray 2. Scripture 3. Regular worship and 4. Service.

Sarah shared how she spent a summer with her aunt and uncle who were Mormon and did everything that a Mormon family always did. They saw what they were missing and they requested to go to church. She had a desire to learn about the Savior burning within her. When she went to BYU she was able to go to Jerusalem and she asked for a sure testimony that this was all true. She still felt that she didn't have the "Apostle Paul experience". She returned home to the ward that had nurtured her as a teenager and she heard their testimonies and there she realized that this was what she needed. Your do not have to have amazing experiences and travel abrad. You just need to live the gospel and feel of the love.

Relief Society Declaration

We are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity

Lesson Summary, Savoring the Sacred Things of the Lord

Claudia G. enriched us today by asking the question,  "Do I Savor the Sacred Things of the Lord?" 

She began by asking us, "What is sacred to you?" The repsonses included: My covenants, temple garments, the spot where I pray, family and time with them, children, relationship with the Lord, testimony, scriptures, life, word of the Lordd, honoring the priesthood, sabbath day, tithing.

Savor comes from Latin sapere which means to know, to taste or smell, or come to know. Think about how you savor food. Can we relate that to spiritual savoring. Claudia talked about how anciently a meal itself was sacred and often you had to rely on the Lord for that meal. Additionally, in the middle east if you broke bread with your neighbor you made a covenant that you would protect their land. Likewise, our covenants empower us and give us protection from evil.

To help us think about our covenants, Claudia shared quotes from two talks: "The Power of Convenants" by Elder Todd Christofferson, and "Cleave unto the Covenants" by Barbara Thompson.  

"Lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.”¹ I cannot read this scripture without feeling joy. My heart rejoices as I think of the promises and many blessings which have been part of my life as I have sought to cleave unto the covenants which I have made with my Heavenly Father." - Barbara Thompson

Claudia asked up to consider, "How can savoring my covenants bring power into my life?"

"What is it about making and keeping covenants with God that gives us the power to smile through hardships, to convert tribulation into triumph, to “be anxiously engaged in a good cause, … and bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58:27)?" - Elder Todd Christofferson

"In the covenant path we find a steady supply of gifts and help. “Charity never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:8; Moroni 7:46), love begets love, compassion begets compassion, virtue begets virtue, commitment begets loyalty, and service begets joy. We are part of a covenant people, a community of Saints who encourage, sustain, and minister to one another. As Nephi explained, “And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them” (1 Nephi 17:3). ^{2 "} - Elder Todd Christofferson

One sister has found power in the fact that others recognize her example in the workplace and elsewhere. Another sister mentioned the difference between a covenant and a contract. A covenant is based on love not adversary.

How can we savor our covenants? 

Take the time to recognize the blessings from our covenants. Writing in our journal and reviewing those entries, can help us to recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives. Share with others and teach others how to obtain them. Become a community of covenant people through service and inviting people in need to become part of our family. Carve out time to have one on one time with the Lord.  Read scriptures right when you wake up. It is easy to do more when you do just a little. The same can be said for prayer. When you put the Lord first he will put your first and bless you.

Pondering can be equated to savoring and when you ponder the scriptures or covenants and when we pray always, then things can pop into your mind in the middle of the day. It is a vehicle for revelation. For some this is in the quiet hours first thing in the morning. The answers come when we ask the questions. The questions enrich our study.

When we savor food we savor all aspects including the visual, smell and taste. We don't just think about the main taste, but savor the nuances, beauty and contrasts. We need to make our pondering just as rich and full.

When we feast upon the words of Christ remember not to close the scriptures and go away hungry. We can receive more if we never leave spiritually hungry. Another sister mentioned that her patriarchal blessing is another strength.

"I testify that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found the priesthood authority to administer the ordinances by which we can enter into binding covenants with our Heavenly Father in the name of His Holy Son. I testify that God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants with Him. He will bless you in “good measure, pressed down, … shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). He will strengthen and finish your faith. He will, by His Holy Spirit, fill you with godly power. I pray that you will always have His Spirit to be with you to guide you and deliver you from want, anxiety, and distress. I pray that through your covenants, you may become a powerful instrument for good in the hands of Him who is our Lord and Redeemer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." - Elder Todd Christofferson