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)

RS Lesson Summary, March 3, 2013

Today we heard from Katie on the topic of  Eternal Progression.

Lorenzo Snow was discussing th gospel with a friend, and during that conversation he had a revelation. He summarizes his leanings as:

"the eyes of my understanding were opened, and I saw as clear as the sun at noonday, with wonder and astonishment, the pathway of God and man. I formed the following couplet which expresses the revelation, as it was shown me. … 'As man now is, God once was:  As God now is, man may be.'"(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful)

This revelation became a guiding star to him, and a constant light to him throughout his life.

The core of this principal is that we are children of God. Just as we want the best for our own children, our Father in Heaven wants this for us.

"He has bestowed upon us the capacity for infinite wisdom and knowledge, because He has given us a portion of Himself." - Lorenzo Snow

Just as we pass down qualities to our own children, we have inherited divine qualities from our Father.

How has knowing that you are a child of God influenced you in your life? It keeps you grounded though trials and gives perspective in life, it can be a clarifying force in the chaotic world, we feel love unconditionally and feel confident that God will be there, it helps us to feel love toward others when we realize that we are all His children.

One sister shared that during a time of depression when she wondered what it would be like if she were not here, she felt confirmation that she was a daughter of God and that makes all the difference.

When parents can disappoint, we know that our Father in Heaven will never disappoint.

Because we are children of God we have divine potential. Sometimes the idea of eternity can be overwhelming. There is much we don't know about eternity, but we are not supposed to feel fear or overwhelmed. We are like little children, inexperienced, but our Father is leading us little by little closer to our divine potential.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." D&C 78:17-19

"Our travel in this path of exaltation will bring to us the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to stand in the presence of our Father, to receive of His fullness, to have the pleasure of increasing in our posterity worlds without end, to enjoy those pleasant associations that we have had in this life, to have our sons and our daughters, our husbands and our wives, surrounded with all the enjoyment that heaven can bestow, our bodies glorified like unto the Savior’s, free from disease and all the ills of life, and free from the disappointments and vexations and the unpleasant sacrifices that we are making here."(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful)

How do you feel when you think about all that is in store for us?

Some feel overwhelmed at the idea that there is no end, the transition between this life and the next may be difficult, the next segment may be a new adventure but it also is the next step. We are in the midst of Eternity now. We are in the process of growing, we know that God is there.

As we remember the blessings that are prepared for us, then we find joys amid the cares and vexations of life.

"We frequently, in the multitude of cares around us, get forgetful and these things are not before us, then we do not comprehend that the gospel is designed and calculated in its nature to bestow upon us those things that will bring glory, honor and exaltation, that will bring happiness, peace and glory. We are apt to forget these things in the midst of the cares and vexations of life, and we do not fully understand that it is our privilege, and that the Lord has placed it in our reach to pursue that gospel whereby we may have peace within us continually. …"(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful)

 We can get caught up in the routine of day to day living and time pondering, scripture reading and praying can help us focus on the larger picture. We also can remember our divine potential and feel empowered to progress.