Today Jessica from the stake young women's program taught us from President Henry B. Eyring, called "Mountains to Climb" This talk references President Kimball's 1979 talk on the same topic. President Kimball tells the origin of the phrase "mountains to climb". In the days of the exodus, Moses sent out a scouting party who identified the land of Canaan. While most of the people feared that land, filled with inhospitable people, Caleb and Joshua believed that they could Canaan. The Lord declared that the people of the time would die before the Israel could inherit Canaan, but that Caleb and Joshua would live to inherent the land. Caleb understood that he had followed the Lord and would inherit the land. He also knew that he had to dwell until the time was write. Finally, he felt courage to say, "give me this mountain." See Numbers 13
"Humbly, I give this pledge to the Lord and to you, my beloved brothers and sisters, fellow workers in this sacred cause of Christ: I will go forward, with faith in the God of Israel, knowing that he will guide and direct us, and lead us, finally, to the accomplishment of his purposes and to our promised land and our promised blessings." - President Spencer W. Kimball
After hearing this president Eyring asked for more mountains and a few weeks later encountered the biggest trial of his life thus far. He says, "One of the keys to an enduring faith is to judge correctly the curing time required. That is why I was unwise to pray so soon in my life for higher mountains to climb and greater tests."
We need a solid foundation of faith. When a home is built the foundation is essential and it takes some time, including leveling, digging the footings, rebar, establishing bearing walls, pouring the correct concrete. The foundation needs to poured on a day that it can cure correctly. Ideally we want the foundation before we encounter mountains, but it is never to late to strengthen foundations,
How do we help our children to do this? Our example teaches the most. one sister shared that you start with little children that can't talk back, or in other words start early. If we teach good principles and then give accountability and some freedom to make choices, they will build a foundation. We need to give choices when they are little, even about small things, they learn to make choices.
The metal framework of a foundation can be likened to our church structure, ordinances, and covenants. These act as stimuli for us to do our best and encounter challenges,because we have covenanted to do so. The visiting teaching program allows us to interact and learn from women in different life stages. When we are children the church structure can provide ways for us to learn the gospel even if our family does not offer the same opportunities.
The curing process can be likened to our learning. It does not necessarily simply come through age. We need to serve others consistently and wholeheartedly, to cure our foundation.
How do we strengthen ourselves when we feel our foundation is weak? If we turn to our Father in Heaven through prayer, fasting and pondering while we are in the midst of trial. We can receive increased faith, even if we don't have all the answers of how to overcome our trials. During our trials we are cut to our core and we must rely on our faith, and also those that use their faith on behalf of others.
Likewise we can gain strength knowing that we are led also through green pastures. We can recognize our blessings at all times and gain strength through that recognition. One sister shared her experience climbing a mountain. Although starting with exuberance, as the day wore on, they became exhausted and the desire to finish diminished. Her sister declared she could not go any further, but this sister didn't want to stop so close to the top. She suggested that they go 10 steps at a time until they get to the top. Likewise we can take one step at a time, helping others on the way, until we climb our mountain.
"It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. There is always time. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead for forgiveness. There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel." - Henry B. Eyring.
Jessica offered a story of her roomate that felt she should speak with her Bishop about her life's direction. Instead the Bishop called her to be RS President. A few weeks later this woman was diagnosed with leukemia. Through years of chemotherapy he held the calling of RS President. Jessica asked her why she thought the Lord had seen fit to have her have such a calling during her trial. This woman answered that she felt that the calling saved her, by making her look outward during such a difficult trial instead of inward with self-pity.
"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up.10 And He always keeps His word." - Henry B. Eyring
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Lesson Summary: June 17th, 2012
Today Sarah gave an inspiring lesson on revelation from Teachings of George Albert Smith.
Sarah pulled from two sources. The lesson manual and from a talk from April conference by Richard G. Scott. How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life"
The word for today was "apocalypse." We think that we know the meaning of this word - the end of the world. Really this word means to reveal. John revealed the end of the world, and in that time all things will be revealed.
George Albert Smith offered an allegory about revelation. He was taking a flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. They are flying over mountain ranges and suddenly they hit terrible fog, where there was no visibility. He was worried about the mountain ranges without visibility and went to talk to the pilot. He asked what instruments he had to ensure they didn't hit a mountain. He noticed that the pilot was listening intently to a headset. The copilot explained that the pilot could hear a humming signal, transmitted by radio towers, if they were on the right path.
Like all allegories it is essential to understand the meaning of each aspect of the story. First the fog is the distractions of the world. Our radio signal is revelation and the Spirit. The pilot is our prophet, who receives signals from the Lord to help us reach our destination, which is eternal life. in addition, we are able to be the pilot through personal revelation.
“Not only has the Lord given us the advice already recorded in the scriptures to guide us but he has placed a leader in this Church, one of his sons who has been chosen and ordained and set apart to be the President. He is our pilot and he will be directed by a voice that will enable him to lead us where we should go. If we are wise we will not set up our judgment against him but will be happy to honor him in his place as long as the Lord sustains him.” - George Albert Smith
What has the Lord reveled to me through the prophet? Sarah remembers President Kimball teaching about keeping a journal. Now keeping a journal is trendy, but then it wasn't popular. It was a wonderful support for he, helping to think through life, problem solving, etc. A second teaching she recalls was President Benson's talk to mothers, advising "be there at the crossroads", or in other words be there in the comings and goings of your children. President Kimball taught about keeping a garden, which she has tried to do.
Another sister always thinks about President Hinkley's encouragement to stand a little taller and be a little better. Other teachings mentioned were "Do it!" (President Kimball), and "Stop it!"(President Uchtdorf)
We believe that the apostles and president are prophet seers and revelators. We can receive revelation for ourselves and those things which we have stewardship, but not for other people or for the church outside our stewardship.
We reviewed Article of Faith 9. God wants us to receive all the revelation we can. Sarah brought a deck of cards. As a parent you always try to give cards or the information that they need to know, to your children. The goal is to help them to learn to live an independent, happy, healthy life because you have revealed all that they need to know. Likewise our father in heaven wants to give to us, but we need to ask. The scriptures are full of requests from the Lord for us to ask. See James 1:5, 2 Nephi 32:4-5, 2 Nephi 4, 1 Nephi 10:17-19, D&C 76:5-10, D&C 42:61, Matthew 7:7,
If we want revelation we need to keep the commandments, walk humbly before the Lord, and be prayerful.
Elder Scott approaches revelation by opening the scriptures and prays to know what to read. He ponders and then prays to know if there is anything more. Finally he writes. Pride, anger, discouragement, fear, defensiveness, hurt, loud laughter and exaggerated speach all inhibit our ability to receive revelation. Good health practices, like sleep,exercise and eating well, good activity choices that don't distract enhance ability to receive revelation.
"One of the great lessons each of us needs to learn is to ASK. Why does the Lord want us to pray to him and ask? Because that is how revelation is received." -Elder Richard G. Scott
"But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who given liberally..." D&C 46:7
"if though shalt ask thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation..." D&C 42:61
"Ask,and it shall be given you." Matthew 7:7
Sarah asked to to finally consider to questions. "What has the Lord revealed to me?" and "What do I need to ask?"
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Lesson recap: June 3 2012
Sunday we received instruction on Visiting Teaching from our RS presidency. Here please find the handout and a summary for this inspiring lesson.
Catherine shared how when she was younger she felt that RS was not for her and did not want to participate in it, including visiting teaching. Her visiting teacher was relentless, and so Catherine said she could meet her in a very inconvenient place and time for her visiting teacher. And the teacher came. She continuously showed that she wanted to love and serve Catherine, loving her into relief society.
Ashlie D. Shared the vision of visiting teacher. Sister Smoot said,
Elder Wirthlin said, some people are lost "because they are different, some because they are weary, and some because they have strayed."
Ashlie shared that after high school she had decided not to go to college and felt very alone. Her singles Ward visiting teachers would always come and express their love. She learned the value of visiting teaching. Several times she has felt that the sisters she visited seemed to have it all together, and she remembers this time when it probably seemed to her teachers that she was not in need. However, their visits meant so much to her at that time.
Our Personal Gospel Ministry: Visiting Teaching
“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...
“ …You are going to save souls, and who can tell but that many of the fine active people in the
Church today are active because you were in their homes and gave them a new outlook, a new
vision. You pulled back the curtain. You extended their horizons…
“You see, you are not only saving these sisters, but perhaps also their husbands and their homes.”
President Spencer W. Kimball
Resources- March 2012 Ensign and Liahona “Visiting Teaching: Understanding the Power of Ministering.” General RS Presidency
- November 2011 Ensign and Liahona “What I Hope My Granddaughters (and Grandsons) Will Understand About Relief Society” Julie B. Beck.
- Daughters In My Kingdom – Chapter 7 “Pure Religion: Watchcare and Ministering through Visiting Teaching”
- Handbook 2: Administering in the Church – RS section 9.5
- Lds.org – Serving in the Church/RS/Visiting Teaching
How Visiting Teachers Love, Watch Over, and Strengthen a Sister
- Pray daily for her and her family.
- Seek inspiration to know her and her family.
- Visit her regularly to learn how she is doing and to comfort and strengthen her.
- Stay in frequent contact through visits, phone calls, letters, e-mail, text messages, and
- simple acts of kindness.
- Greet her at church meetings.
- Help her when she has an emergency, illness, or other urgent need.
- Teach her the gospel from the scriptures and the visiting teaching messages.
- Inspire her by setting a good example.
- Report to a RS leaders about their service and the sister’s spiritual and temporal well-being.
The following kinds of questions can lead to opportunities for visiting teachers to give comfort, share
relevant gospel teaching, and provide meaningful service.
- What worries or concerns do you have?
- What questions do you have about the gospel or the Church?
- Would you allow us to help you with ___________________?
caring for the children for a brief time, assisting with a homemaking task, or helping to run an
errand. It is less helpful to say, “ Call us if you need anything.”
We will know we are successful in our ministry as visiting teachers when the sisters we visit can say:
- My visiting teacher helps me grow spiritually.
- I know that my visiting teacher cares deeply about me and my family.
- If I have problems, I know my visiting teacher will take action without waiting to be invited.
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