Lesson Summary: November 24, 2013

Miriam D led a spiritual discussion using President Uchtdorf's recent conference talk "Come Join with Us".

I am reminded of a time in the Savior’s life when many abandoned Him. Jesus asked His twelve disciples:  

“Will ye also go away? 

“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (2013 October General Conference, Come, Join with Us, Sat. Morning Session - By  Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Once there was a man who dreamed that he was in a great hall where all the religions of the world were gathered. He realized that each religion had much that seemed desirable and worthy.  

He met a nice couple who represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and asked, “What do you require of your members?”  

“We do not require anything,” they replied. “But the Lord asks that we consecrate all.” 

The couple went on to explain about Church callings, home and visiting teaching, full-time missions, weekly family home evenings, temple work, welfare and humanitarian service, and assignments to teach.  

“Do you pay your people for all the work they do?” the man asked.  

“Oh, no,” the couple explained. “They offer their time freely.”  

“Also,” the couple continued, “every six months our Church members spend a weekend attending or watching 10 hours of general conference.”  

“Ten hours of people giving talks?” the man wondered.  

“What about your weekly church services? How long are they?”  

“Three hours, every Sunday!”  

“Oh, my,” the man said. “Do members of your church actually do what you have said?”  

“That and more. We haven’t even mentioned family history, youth camps, devotionals, scripture study, leadership training, youth activities, early-morning seminary, maintaining Church buildings, and of course there is the Lord’s law of health, the monthly fast to help the poor, and tithing.”  

The man said, “Now I’m confused. Why would anyone want to join such a church?”   

The couple smiled and said, “We thought you would never ask.” (2013 October General Conference, Come, Join with Us, Sat. Morning Session - By  Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Miriam asked: Why would anyone join such a church?  
What is it that attracted you (in the beginning) to the church?

The following people shared their testimonies:
The sister missionaries shared that the concept of families being forever attracts investigators. 
Monique A discussed how the plan of salvation gave her peace. 
Karen B shared how the spirit testified to her.
Nettie W, Beth D and Kim H also shared their testimonies. 

First, this Church was restored in our day by Jesus Christ Himself. Here you will find the authority to act in His name—to baptize for the remission of sins, to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to seal on earth and in heaven.  

Those who join this Church love the Savior Jesus Christ and they wish to follow Him. They rejoice in the knowledge that God speaks to mankind again. When they receive sacred priesthood ordinances and make covenants with God, they can feel His power in their lives. When they enter the holy temple, they sense they are in His presence. When they read the holy scriptures and live the teachings of His prophets, they grow closer to the Savior they love so much. (2013 October General Conference, Come, Join with Us, Sat. Morning Session - By  Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

 D&C 84: 18-22 

18 And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the holiest order of God.
19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 84)

In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly, that was restored by a young man who asked questions and sought answers, we respect those who honestly search for truth. It may break our hearts when their journey takes them away from the Church we love and the truth we have found, but we honor their right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim that privilege for ourselves. (2013 October General Conference, Come, Join with Us, Sat. Morning Session - By  Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes.  

In the title page of the Book of Mormon we read, “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.” (2013 October General Conference, Come, Join with Us, Sat. Morning Session - By  Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Miriam ended the discussion with the 11th Article of Faith

 11 We claim the ^aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the ^bdictates of our own ^cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them ^dworship how, where, or what they may.

THANKS MIRIAM FOR THE WONDERFUL DISCUSSION

Lesson Summary: November 17, 2013

Sara G. guided us through this week's lesson on Chapter 23: The Prophet Joseph Smith in the Lorenzo Snow manual.  Her deep admiration for the prophet Joseph shone through.

“I knew Joseph Smith to be an honest man, a man of truth, honor and fidelity, willing to sacrifice everything he possessed, even life itself, as a testimony to the heavens and the world that he had borne the truth to the human family.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 23: The Prophet Joseph Smith)

President Snow was the last prophet of the Church to have personally known Joseph Smith.  His first meeting was at the invitation of family members to a meeting in a bowery when President Snow was about 18 years old.

"I made a critical examination as to his appearance, his dress, and his manner as I heard him speak. His remarks were confined principally to his own experiences, especially the visitation of the angel, giving a strong and powerful testimony in regard to these marvelous manifestations." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 23: The Prophet Joseph Smith)

"There are many people in the world who possess an extraordinary spirit of friendship and warmth that everyone feels who meets them. I have met many such men, but never yet have I met another person in whose company I felt the peculiar and powerful influence that I felt while in the presence of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was due to the great portion of the Spirit of God that he possessed, merely the shake of his hand would cause a person to become filled with this influence, and any sensitive nature would know that he was shaking the hand of an extraordinary person." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 23: The Prophet Joseph Smith)

"In the integrity of my heart, with honesty of purpose to know the truth, I received [Joseph Smith’s] message—I obeyed this form of doctrine, and I received, in the most tangible and satisfactory manner, a divine manifestation—the promised blessing—a knowledge of this work. Am I the only witness? ... Are you also witnesses?"  (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 23: The Prophet Joseph Smith)

President Snow's experience and testimony were accompanied by three of our sister's testimonies.  We heard from Alison F., Colette T. and Randi B.

Lesson Summary: November 10, 2013

Katie T. led our discussion of Chapter 21: Loving God More Than We Love the World in the Lorenzo Snow manual.

Using different photos, Katie likened being limited physically to see clearly, and spiritual blindness when focusing on the wrong priorities.

• 1. What is it about worldliness that leads people to forget their religion? 

We miss the mark and get focused on other things, we forget about the essential reason we are here.

• How can we take care of our temporal needs without being overcome by worldliness?

Listening to the prophets can be key in overcoming temptations and the buzz of the world.
Being honest on where your heart is and not making excuses.

• 2. How can our love for God help us avoid being overcome by worldliness? 

It's a battle, but through our love of God and evaluating where your heart is, we recognize our motivation. Be careful of the pride cycle, sometimes prosperity can be a trial of faithfulness. Focus outward by serving others.

• 3. President Snow taught that we have covenanted to “use our time, talent and ability for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God upon the earth”. Think about what you can do to keep this covenant.

• 4. In what ways can the following truths help us keep our covenants? “This world is short compared with eternity.” No one can “really and truly call any of this world’s goods his own.”

Lesson Summary November 3, 2013

Heather C lead a wonderful discussion around the general conference talk "Do We Know What We Have?" by Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the general relief society presidency. 

This past week, have you come across something you needed to do but couldn't do?
How do the ordinances and covenants empower/enable us in our daily lives?

These priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fulness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior’s Atonement. They arm sons and daughters of God with power, God’s power,⁸ and provide us with the opportunity to receive eternal life—to return to God’s presence and live with Him in His eternal family.

What covenants have we participated in?
- Baptism

We need baptism. When we are immersed in the waters of baptism, we covenant to take Christ’s name upon us, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end, that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.²

-Confirmation
We need the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through that ordinance, we can have access to the constant companionship of the Spirit. President Wilford Woodruff taught: “Every man or woman that has ever entered into the church of God and been baptized for the remission of sins has a right to revelation, a right to the Spirit of God, to assist them in their labors, in their administrations to their children, in counseling their children and those over whom they are called upon to preside. The Holy Ghost is not restricted to men, nor to apostles or prophets; it belongs to every faithful man and woman, and to every child who is old enough to receive the gospel of Christ.”³
Personal stories:
*Hilary M. shared how the Holy Ghost reminds her to be become a better person. She tells of the time she returned home from her mission and how the Holy Ghost comforted her and reminder her to love others and have charity.  
*Tori G. shared a story about a rigorous youth trek. She explained how she was strengthened during a physically weak moment by the Holy Ghost and was able to immediately feel greater strength. 

-Sacrament
We need the opportunity to renew our covenants each week as we partake of the sacrament. Latter-day prophets and apostles have taught that when we worthily partake of the sacrament, we can renew not only our baptismal covenant but “all covenants entered into with the Lord.”⁷

-Endowment
We need to receive the temple endowment. Elder M. Russell Ballard said: “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. … The endowment is literally a gift of power.”⁴
*Strengthened us in times of loneliness

-Sealing
We need the sealing ordinance, which leads to eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.”⁵ This priesthood ordinance is received only by a man and a woman together. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, “Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally.”⁶

Conclusion:
Jesus Christ is the one who makes our covenants valid. His love makes us want to be better. Try hard. Keep growing and keep going.

Thank you Heather for the wonderful lesson!

Fall 2013 Retreat: What Desirest Thou

We took time to feed our bodies, minds and souls on October 18th.

The evening opened with tasty beverages and a variety of hearty fall soups, breads and salads, while sisters could also peruse the Create Gallery showcasing our creative energies.  Lovely piano music accompanied all the cheerful conversation.

After dinner we met with song and inspiration on our topic "What Desirest Thou" by April F.

Considering our heart's desires and finding ways to realize them with break out groups to brainstorm how to make your desire a reality.

Before dessert there was a skit by Colette and her crew on the stage.

There was an opportunity to try you hand at card making with washi tape.

Even the young women got into the act with a few photo bombs by the end of the night.