Stay in the Boat and Hold On! - February 22, 2015

Tina D. lead our discussion of Elder M. Russell Ballard's "Stay in the Boat and Hold On!" General Conference talk from October 2014.

"The Lord in His goodness has provided help, including a boat, essential supplies such as life jackets, and experienced river guides who give guidance and safety instructions to help us make our way down the river of life to our final destination.Let’s think about rule number one: stay in the boat!President Brigham Young commonly employed “the Old Ship Zion” as a metaphor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!")

• How do you stay on 'the Old Ship Zion'?

President Young reminded the Saints: “We are on the old ship Zion. … [God] is at the helm and will stay there. … All is right, sing Hallelujah, for the Lord is here. He dictates, guides and directs. If the people will have implicit confidence in their God, never forsake their covenants nor their God, He will guide us right.”³ Given the challenges we all face today, how do we stay on the Old Ship Zion?

Here is how. We need to experience a continuing conversion by increasing our faith in Jesus Christ and our faithfulness to His gospel throughout our lives—not just once but regularly. Alma asked, “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren [and sisters], if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?”⁴

The experienced river guides today can be likened to the Church’s apostles and prophets and inspired local priesthood and auxiliary leaders. They help us arrive safely to our final destination. ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!") 

“I have discovered in my ministry that those who have become lost [and] confused are typically those who have most often … forgotten that when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve speak with a united voice, it is the voice of the Lord for that time. The Lord reminds us, ‘Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same’ [D&C 1:38].”⁵In other words, they leave the Old Ship Zion—they fall away; they apostatize. Tragically, they often experience short-term and eventually long-term unintended consequences, not only for themselves but also for their families. ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!")

“… There is something about the individual and combined wisdom of the [Church leaders] that should provide some comfort. We have experienced it all, including the consequences of different public laws and policies, disappointments, tragedies, and deaths in our own families. We are not out of touch with your lives.”⁶ ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!")

It seems that these things which are not easily measured are of great importance. Stay focused on these simple things, and avoid becoming distracted. ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!")

• How do you avoid becoming distracted?

The important questions focus on what matters most—Heavenly Father’s plan and the Savior’s Atonement. Our search should lead us to become kind, gentle, loving, forgiving, patient, and dedicated disciples. We must be willing, as Paul taught, to “bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”¹³ ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!")

Brothers and sisters, stay in the boat, use your life jackets, and hold on with both hands. Avoid distractions! And if any one of you have fallen out of the boat, we will seek you, find you, minister to you, and pull you safely back onto the Old Ship Zion, where God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are at the helm and will guide us right, to which I humbly testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ("Stay in the Boat and Hold On!")

Freedom of Choice/Living Joyfully in Troubled Times - February 15, 2015

 Natalie M. taught a great lesson blending themes from 2 chapters of the Ezra Taft Benson manual:
 Chapter 3: Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle and Chapter 4: Living Joyfully in Troubled Times.

• In what ways have you seen that “the war that began in heaven … is not yet over”?

• How can we teach agency to youth children?

Let them have consequences in the home.



We were lucky to have a class of Primary children drop in and sing "Choose the Right Way" for all of us.

Choose the Right Way  160

1. There's a right way to live and be happy;
It is choosing the right ev'ry day.
I am learning the teachings of Jesus;
They will help me and show me the way.

Choose the right way and be happy.
I must always choose the right.

2. Through the gospel I learn to be prayerful,
To have faith, to repent, to obey,
And I know if I live by his teachings,
I will truly be happy each day.

Words and music: Clara W. McMaster, 1904–1997.
© 1981 IRI

 … Satan’s program is “play now and pay later.” He seeks for all to be miserable like unto himself [see 2 Nephi 2:27]. The Lord’s program is happiness now and joy forever through gospel living.
We are free to choose, but we are not free to alter the consequences of those choices.
Chapter 3: Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle

While a man may take some temporary pleasure in sin, the end result is unhappiness. “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10.) Sin creates disharmony with God and is depressing to the spirit. Therefore, a man would do well to examine himself to see that he is in harmony with all of God’s laws. Every law kept brings a particular blessing. Every law broken brings a particular blight. Those who are heavy-laden with despair should come unto the Lord, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Chapter 3: Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

• When have you given the Lord your burden and it was made light?

The biggest business of any life is making decisions.
Chapter 3: Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

• What does it mean to you to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause”?

Living Joyfully in Troubled Times

• Why does faith give hope and peace?

16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
Doctrine & Covenants 101:16

We have no cause to really worry. Live the gospel, keep the commandments. Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. Maintain the standards of the Church. Try and live calmly and cheerfully. … Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort.
There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.” (Doct&Cov 121:7–8.)
Pressing on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine.
Chapter 4: Living Joyfully in Troubled Times

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Mosiah 2:41

• What are some experiences that let you know that Heavenly Father wants you to be happy?

Pray Always- February 8, 2015

Alice M gave the lesson using Ezra Taft Benson, Chapter 2: Pray Always

Prayer is how we communicate with our Heavenly Father  AND  whisperings of the spirit is how He communicates with us. 


Topical guide Prayer:
favorite scriptures shared by people
Jacob 3:1
Matthew 5:44 
Alma 37:37

We should give prayers of gratitude:

President Benson’s brethren in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also benefited from his prayerful nature. President Gordon B. Hinckley, who served as President Benson’s First Counselor in the First Presidency, said:

“I have knelt with him and heard him pray.
“His prayers were always interesting. Almost without exception, they consisted for the most part of expressions of thanks. He asked for very little. He expressed gratitude for very much.
“He thanked the Lord for life, for family, for the gospel, for faith, for sunlight and rain, the bounties of nature, and the freedom-loving instincts of man. He thanked the Lord for friends and associates. He expressed love for the Savior and gratitude for His atoning sacrifice. He thanked the Lord for the opportunity to serve the people.”^5 (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, (2014), 46–57)

Pray for others. Teach our children to pray for others:

President Benson and his wife, Flora, established a home where everyone prayed, individually and together. Their son Mark observed: “When Dad knelt down to pray, he didn’t rush things. There was meaning behind his words. It came through loud and clear that he was communicating with our Father in heaven.”⁶President and Sister Benson taught their children to pray for personal guidance and strength and also to pray for one another. A friend of the family once observed the influence of those teachings when she attended a session of general conference with the Bensons. She wrote:

“On an April day … , I discovered one source of a General Authority’s strength.
“I was seated with the six children of Elder Ezra Taft Benson, one of whom was my college roommate. My interest heightened when President [David O.] McKay arose and announced the next speaker. I watched respectfully as Elder Benson, whom I had not yet met, walked toward the microphone. He was a big man, well over six feet tall. He was … a man internationally known as the United States Secretary of Agriculture and a special witness of the Lord, a man who seemed serene and sure, one who had addressed audiences throughout the world. Suddenly a hand touched my arm. A little girl leaned toward me and whispered urgently, ‘Pray for Dad.’
“Somewhat startled, I thought, ‘This message is being passed down the row, and I am to pass it on. Shall I say, “Pray for Elder Benson”? Shall I say, “You’re supposed to say a prayer for your father”?’ Sensing the immediate need to act, I leaned over and whispered simply, ‘Pray for Dad.’
“I watched that whisper move along the row to where Sister Benson sat, her head already bowed. …

5 ways to improve our communication with Heavenly Father

1. We should pray frequently.2. We should find an appropriate place where we can meditate and pray.3. We should prepare ourselves for prayer. 4. Our prayers should be meaningful and pertinent. 5. After making a request through prayer, we have a responsibility to assist in its being granted. 

Ezra Taft Benson Personal experience with prayer:

Out of personal experience, I know the efficacy and power of prayer. …
In 1946 I was assigned by President George Albert Smith to go to war-torn Europe and reestablish our missions from Norway to South Africa and to set up a program for the distribution of welfare supplies.
We established headquarters in London. We then made preliminary arrangements with the military on the continent. One of the first men I wished to see was the commander of the American forces in Europe. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany.
When we arrived in Frankfurt, my companion and I went in to seek an appointment with the general. The appointment officer said, “Gentlemen, there will be no opportunity for you to see the general for at least three days. He’s very busy and his calendar is filled up with appointments.”
I said, “It is very important that we see him, and we can’t wait that long. We’re due in Berlin tomorrow.”
He said, “I’m sorry.”
We left the building, went out to our car, removed our hats, and united in prayer. We then went back into the building and found a different officer at the appointment post. In less than fifteen minutes we were in the presence of the general. We had prayed that we would be able to see him and to touch his heart, knowing that all relief supplies contributed from any source were then required to be placed in the hands of the military for distribution. Our objective, as we explained it to the general, was to distribute our own supplies to our own people through our own channels, and also to make gifts for general child feeding.
We explained the welfare program and how it operated. Finally, he said, “Well, gentlemen, you go ahead and collect your supplies; and by the time you get them collected, the policy may be changed.” We said, “General, our supplies are already collected; they’re always collected. Within twenty-four hours from the time we wire the First Presidency of the Church in Salt Lake City, carloads of supplies will be rolling toward Germany. We have many storehouses filled with basic commodities.”
He then said, “I’ve never heard of a people with such vision.” His heart was touched as we had prayed it would be. Before we left his office, we had a written authorization to make our own distribution to our own people through our own channels. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, (2014), 46–57)

Share what you love - Presidency message

Sue A. encouraged us all to "Share what you love" with those around you.

And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.

And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.  1 Nephi 8:11-12

• How do we share the gospel?

Sue shared some experiences from her mission with notable institute growth in Germany.  We polled the class and outside of those baptized when they were 8 years old, most joined the church between 20-35yrs with equal number in their teens and 36+yrs.

• Who said 'do you want to meet with the missionaries'?

Think about people the church needs. People like to be needed.
Invite people to: the Relief Society Birthday, park days, tutoring Tuesday nights kids at the institute building, lunch with the missionaries.
The sister missionaries told of a woman who joined in Fremont that they took a member to discussions and she helped befriend her and made her feel welcome in the ward. In Hollister, a woman struggled to know if God loved her and it delayed her decision to be baptized until a ward mission leader gave her a hug at the end of a lesson.  She felt the love of the Lord.

Don't be afraid to let everyone know that you are LDS. Have 4 kids, genealogy, child's baptism, going to the temple, share your life - don't leave out church, event conflict.

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!  Doct. &Cov. 18:15-16