Lesson Recap: June 24th

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