RS Lesson: Jesus Christ Can Bring Us Peace

 Sunday, August 29th, I taught my Relief Society lesson from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's conference talk "Not as the World Giveth." The main message of this talk is what I titled this post: Jesus Christ can bring us peace. 

Elder Holland begins his talk directly with scripture verses from Christ's earthly ministry:

John 14:1, 18, 27 

"1.  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

18. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.

27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

In those three verses, Jesus asks us not to fear, and to believe in Him. In return, he promises us comfort and peace.

Elder Holland then goes into a summary of the grim things that have been prophesied for the last days.

JS Matthew 1:23, 30

"23. Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect’s sake; and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet.

30. And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved." 

Elder Holland also said that the Book of Mormon prophets "prophetically warn us that violence and conflict will be a signature characteristic of relationships in the last days.”

And D&C 1:35 “For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is night at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.”

My ward talked about how knowing this stuff ahead of time helps us prepare both spiritually and physically. And that if our focus is on Christ, we will be okay.

Elder Holland said that the greater conflict lies not in the wars and rumors of wars, but something closer to home:

"Fortunately, the current generation has not had a Third World War to fight, nor have we experienced a global economic crash like the one in 1929 leading to a Great Depression. We are, however, facing a kind of Third World War that is not a fight to crush our enemies but a conscription marshaling the children of God to care more about each other and to help heal the wounds we find in a conflicted world. The Great Depression we now face has less to do with the external loss of our savings and more to do with the internal loss of our self-confidence, with real deficits of faith and hope and charity all around us. But the instruments we need to create a brighter day and grow an economy of genuine goodness in society are abundantly provided for in the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (emphasis added)

In addition to that, Elder Holland paraphrased President Russell M. Nelson that even if the world is generally not at peace, we can be individually. We discussed how to do that, and the conversation steered in the direction of taking care of ourselves and our family. Also, not to feel stress to save the entire world by ourselves. We save the world one step at a time: ourselves, our families, our ward, our neighborhood, our community.

Elder Holland then said, “Such help and hope are dearly needed because in this worldwide congregation today are many who struggle with any number of challenges - physical or emotional, social or financial, or a dozen other kinds of trouble. But many of these we are not strong enough to address in and of ourselves, for the help and peace we need is not the kind “the world giveth.” No, for the truly difficult problems we need what the scriptures call “the powers of heaven,” and to access these powers we must live by what these same scriptures call “principles of righteousness.”

There are three parts from this quote that I want to focus on. The first is that we are not strong enough to fix all of our problems ourselves. I asked the sisters what their initial feelings or reaction to that statement were. The common response was, "so that I can turn to Christ for help." Then we talked about the difficulty that many women have in accepting help from others, and the reminder that Heavenly Father sends help in the form of others.

The second is the inspiration behind the title of Elder Holland's talk. What "peace" that the world gives that both Christ and Elder Holland recommend that we stay away from? Probably temporary pleasures, addictive substances and behaviors, worshipping money, etc.

And last, Elder Holland says that living by "principles of righteousness" will bring us the peace that Christ gives us. We made a list of principles of righteousness: love, faith, humility, knowledge, teachable, obedience, service. etc.

Elder Holland said, "Absent those principles, it was certain we would eventually face discord and enmity.”

If not following the principles of the gospel means “discord and enmity,” does following them promise harmony and goodwill all the time? No, but it does help us gain the skills and strength to make it through hard times.

Elder Holland ends his talk with the reminder that in addition to finding peace for ourselves, we should also provide peace for others in our words and actions. He said, "Everyone has the right to be loved, to feel peaceful, and to find safety at home… The promise of being a peacemaker is that you will have the Holy Ghost for your constant companion and blessings will flow to you “without compulsory means” forever.”

I also believe that in bringing peace to others, through service, we can also bring peace to ourselves. I ended the lesson with challenging the women of my ward to find one way to bring peace to someone else, and to write down their experience in their journal.

RS Lesson: "Remember Your Way Back Home"

 This month's Relief Society lesson from me was Elder Jose A. Teixeira's talk "Remember Your Way Back Home." 

Ask yourself: What smell reminds you of your childhood home? For me, it's apple cinnamon candles.

Salmon hatch in a stream, spend their lives in the open ocean, and return to the stream of their birth when it’s time to spawn. How do you think they find the stream they were born in? Researchers discovered that they use their sense of smell to follow scents they recognize as their home.

In making the connection with the salmon, Elder Teixeira said, “The most important things we can do in this life is to recognize and remember the pathway back to our Heavenly Father and faithfully and joyfully persevere throughout the journey.”

Elder Teixeira gives us four things to remember to help us return home to Heavenly Father.

1. Remember that we are children of God

"“Knowing that we are children of God and that He wants us to return to His presence…” (emphasis added)

The reason I underlined the "and" is because knowing that we are children of God isn't a new concept. One of the first things we learn in the Church is that we are sons and daughters of God. But adding in that Heavenly Father wants us to return home is not new information, but it is something I haven't thought about as a motivation to follow the iron rod. Heavenly Father wants you to come back to him. He is rooting for you!

What helps us remember this?

• Remember our blessings from the Lord

• Trust what God’s servants say about our worth → the Spirit, Prophet, other church leaders, etc.

“Knowing who you are changes what you feel and what you do. Understanding who you truly are better prepares you to recognize and remember your way back to your heavenly home and yearn to be there.”

How has knowledge of your self worth helped you?

One sister shared that her acceptance of her self worth helped her quit a job that was mistreating her, and then gave her the courage to tell another potential job ten minutes after the deadline, "I am the right person for the job, please take my application."

Another sister shared that her self worth awareness helped her leave a group of friends in high school who were really mean to her, and find a new group who were much nicer; allowing her to have a much better high school experience.

2. We can remember the foundation that protect us

What is that foundation? Jesus Christ.

Helaman 5:6-12 has the word remember 13 times. And verses 9-12 specifically talk about what Christ has done for us, with verse 12 naming Christ as our foundation and rock.

When have you been protected by having Jesus Christ as your foundation?

Several sisters talked about how just in general having a foundation in Christ allows us to be strong during all of the stuff that life throws at us. Another sister added that part of this foundation is making decisions long before the situation happens, that way we aren't put on the spot and unsure of what the right choice it.

3. We can remember to be prayerful

What is the most common topic that you search on Google?

Answers: How to..., Cast of (fill in the blank movie), Recipes, Carbohydrates

We have something much better than Google: prayer.

D&C 19:38 Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing - yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to extend thereof.

“God is fully aware of each one of us and ready to listen to our prayers. When we remember to pray, we find His sustaining love, and the ore we pray to our Father in Heaven in Christ’s name, the more we bring the Savior into our life and the better we will recognize the path He has marked to our heavenly home.”

4. We can remember to serve others

“As we strive to follow Jesus Christ by serving and showing kindness to others, we make the world a better place… Loving service adds meaning to the lives of both the giver and the receiver...Loving service to others guides us along the path to our heavenly hoe - the path of becoming like our Savior.”

“We have Jesus Christ’s perfect example to follow, and the journey toward our eternal home is possible only because of His teachings, His life, and His atoning sacrifice - including His death and glorious Resurrection.”

Why do you think serving others is part of the path to returning home?

So, to review:

Remember that you are a child of God who is rooting for you! Remember to make Jesus Christ your foundation. Remember to pray and serve others.

RS Lesson: Faith in Jesus Christ Can Move Mountains

 Today was my first Sunday teaching Relief Society in the Relief Society room surrounded by the other women in my ward in over a year, and it was wonderful! Today's lesson was taken from President Russell M. Nelson's Sunday morning talk, "Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains."

Before jumping into the content of the talk, I have one question: From a secular point of view, who or what has great power?

The women in my ward answered: political leaders, the wealthy, high profile advocates, celebrities.

President Nelson said, “Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life. All things are possible to them that believe.”

Do you believe that? Do you believe that the power of faith is more powerful than the secular list we just made?

One sister said that it depended on where she was in her personal faith. Sometimes she has enough faith to not led the problems of the world get to her, and other times the world pulls her down into depression.

Another sister brought up President Nelson's clarification of what faith to move mountains means: "Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest. Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith."

Piggy backing off of that, another sister explained that for her, visually, her mountains are a brick wall. Each brick is one struggle, and she can't break down the whole wall at once, she has to do it one brick at a time; which requires faith and patience.

President Nelson said, “Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of all belief and the conduit of divine power… Everything good in life - every potential blessing of eternal significance - begins with faith. Allowing God to prevail in our lives begins with faith that He is willing to guide us. True repentance begins with faith that Jesus Christ has the power to cleanse, heal, and strengthen us.”

Three of many scripture verses that back this statement up:

Moroni 10:7 And ye may know that the is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

D&C 63:9-10 But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.

Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.

D&C 64:34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

What do these verses teach us about faith? Faith precedes God's power, signs, blessings, miracles, etc. And we need to be willing to work towards it.

President Nelson acknowledged that exercising faith can be overwhelming. And he gives two suggestions to help us out:

1. Experiment with your faith. Figure out how it works in your life.

Alma 32:27  But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, eyes, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

While talking about the mustard seed symbolism, I was reminded of a personal experience from a week ago. I was working in my garden in the heat of the sun. Clouds covered the sun, a cool breeze blew, and some light rain fell. It was heaven to work in that environment. After I finished, as soon as I went inside, the clouds moved, and it was sunny again. I thought, "Wow! How lucky!" The Spirit in my head answered, "That wasn't luck. The Lord took care of you in your garden today, and he will take care of you as you look for a job. The Lord will provide."

I believe that Heavenly Father will lead me to the right job this summer. He did last summer, he'll do it again.

2. President Nelson reminds us that our faith does not have to be perfect to work. He uses words like: potential, growing, to describe faith. “The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe.”

President Nelson then challenged us to "start today to increase your faith" and gives us five steps to help us increase our faith:

1. Study: Christ’s mission and ministry, the doctrine of Christ, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, miracles. Where do we find information about those specific topics? The scriptures.

2. “Choose to believe in Jesus Christ.” President Nelson said,  “Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources. Study with the desire to believe rather than the hope that you can find a flaw in the fabric of a prophet’s life or a discrepancy in the scriptures… Allow the Lord to lead you…”

3. Act in faith.

What is an example of acting in faith?

One sister shared that she went through a time where she spent three years applying and interviewing before she got the job she has now. Three years. She said that it got to the point where she didn't even know why she was doing this anymore. But she felt to keep trying, and faith is what kept her going to continue to apply.

Another sister shared that she never considered serving a mission until she started going to the temple once a week with her friends. In the temple, she felt inspired to serve, and moved forward mission preparations, and is getting ready to turn her papers in!

4. Partake of sacred ordinances worthily.

It takes faith to participate in sacred ordinances, and continuing to participate increases our faith.

5. Ask your Heavenly Father for help.

What do the five underlined words have in common? They are verbs, actions words. Faith requires action. We can't just sit there and wait for it to happen.

I will end with my favorite quote from this talk:

“Do not minimize the faith you already have. It takes faith to join the Church and remain faithful. It takes faith to follow prophets rather than pundits and popular opinion. It takes faith to serve a mission during a pandemic. It takes faith to live a chaste life when the world shouts that God’s law of chastity is now outmoded. It takes faith to teach the gospel to children in a secular world. It takes faith to plead for the life of a loved one and even more faith to accept a disappointing answer.”

What is something you did this past week that took faith?

We didn't have time for anyone to answer that question today. So, if you are comfortable answering publicly, put it in the comments. If not, write it down in your journal. Or make this question a part of Family Home Evening this week and share it with your family.

RS Lesson: Developing Christlike Attributes

 Today's Relief Society Lesson was inspired by Elder Scott D. Whiting's conference talk, "Becoming like Him." In his talk, Elder Scott recommends that each of us discover which Christlike attributes we are lacking or could improve on, and get to work attaining that attribute. 

According to Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, the following are examples Christlike attributes:

• Faith
• Hope
• Charity and Love
• Virtue
• Knowledge
• Patience
• Humility
• Diligence
• Obedience

The sisters in my ward also added Compassion and Service to the list. (What else would you add?)

Also in Chapter 6, there is an Attribute Activity to help you figure out where you are with each attribute. I copied and pasted the activity into a Google Doc, to make printing it easier for anyone who is interested: 

Attribute Activity (Preach My Gospel) Printable 

I filled out the survey. In order to better discuss the next part of Elder Whiting's talk; I am going to be open and vulnerable, and tell you that the attribute I need to greatly improve on is Patience. 

According to Elder Whiting, the first step in improving patience, is to commit to it:

1. I need to have a desire to be patient.   
2. In order to develop patience, I need to understand what it is. The following scripture verses are attached with the Patience section in the Attribute Activity:
1. 2 Nephi 10:17 Christ has promised that he will bless us
2. Romans 8:25 Faith requires patience (connects two attributes!)
3. Alma 17:11 Those who are patience in their suffering will serve as good examples to others
4. Romans 15:1 Choose others over ourselves, and help them in their struggles
5. Ether 12:27 The Lord gives us weaknesses so that we will turn to Him.
1. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
2. Thinking about the attribute you have chosen, how can you use the above verse to help you with that attribute? --> The sisters in my ward talked about the difficulty in asking for and accepting help. I'm definitely one of those people, but when I do let my guard down, and ask for help, I am always so grateful that I did. 
6. Alma 34:40-41 Be patient in your afflictions, and be patience with those afflicting you. Losing patience can lead to sin. Patience allows hope (faith).
3. Look for examples of patience in others. Elder Whiting said, "This will encourage us in our own quest, for if others can attain in some measure His attributes, so can we."
1. How has watching someone else achieve your goal helped you? --> One sister shared that her roommate in college would go up to people she wanted to get to know and say, "Hi, I'm so-and-so, what's your name." She said that example helped her become more open and social when she wanted to get to know someone new.
4. I need to be honest with myself about where I am in my patience levels in comparison to where I need to be. 
5. I should ask Heavenly Father where I am at, and where I should focus.

Once I have committed to improving my patience, it is time to act! Elder Whiting said:

"These attributes won't come cheaply and suddenly, but through His grace they will come incrementally while endeavoring. Christlike attributes are gifts from a loving Heavenly Father to bless us and those around us. Accordingly, our efforts to obtain these attributes will require heartfelt pleas for His divine assistance. If we seek these gifts to better serve others, He will bless us in our efforts. Selfishly pursuing a gift from God will end in disappointment and frustration."

Two things stick out to me from that quote. First, we need to plead to Heavenly Father for help in this endeavor to improve my patience. That tells me that this isn't going to be an independent project. Second, Elder Whiting states that these attributes need to be used to help others. So, I ask myself, who do I want to serve with my patience? How do I want to serve with my patience? (Ask yourself the same questions in relation to the attribute you have chosen.)

The first answer that comes to my mind is my children. They will benefit the most from me having better patience. The employees of the businesses that I patron will benefit from me having patience. On a more spiritual viewpoint, those who are struggling will benefit from me having patience with them and where they are spiritually. 

The third thing to do, according to Elder Whiting, is record our experiences. I should write down what I learned from the scripture verses related to patience, the examples that I see in other people, answers to my prayers, and my own journey as I work on this attribute. 

In case we become frustrated with ourselves - and we will - Elder Whiting ends with the following reminder:

"The commandment to be like Him is not intended to make you feel guilty, unworthy, or unloved. Our entire mortal experience is about progression, trying, failing, and succeeding... You are good enough, you are loved, but that does not mean that you are yet complete. There is work to be done in this life and the next. Only with His divine help can we all progress toward becoming like Him."

I can speak from personal experience, that the feelings of guilt and worthlessness will not help in this endeavor. Those are not true forms of motivation. Like Elder Whiting said earlier, the desire to change for the purpose of blessing others is the best motivator. I have a lot of work cut out for me to improve my patience, but I have faith that I can do it. I challenge you to choose a Christlike attribute that you would like to improve, and follow Elder Whiting's steps to bring that attribute into your life.  

RS Lesson: How Christ Heals

 In Sister Cristina B. Franco's women's session talk, "The Healing Power of Jesus Christ", she opens with a story about a piano she and her husband purchased, which broke upon its arrival. I recommend to watch the story in her words here. (0:34-3:39)

Upon finishing the story, Sister Franco continued,

"Sisters and brothers, aren't we all like this piano, a little broken, cracked, and damaged, feeling like we will never be the same again? However, as we come unto Jesus Christ by exercising faith in Him, repenting, and making and keeping covenants, our brokenness - whatever its cause - can be healed. This process, which invites the Savior's healing power into our lives, does not just restore us to what we were before but makes us better than we ever were. I know that through our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can all be mended, made whole, and fulfill our purpose, just like a beautiful-sounding, brand-new piano."

Let's review what the manager of the music store said, "The wood is broken, and once the wood is broken, it can never sound the same." The manager's implication is negative. However, when Sister Franco compares our moments of feeling broken to her piano story, she adds that using the Atonement will "make us better than we ever were." That is the difference between us and a piano. We aren't ruined when we break.

How does Christ heal us?

Matthew 11:28-29 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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."

Yokes bind animals together, so by using this symbolism, Christ is inviting us to be bound to him.

D&C 6:36 "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." (When are we supposed to look to Christ? What is the opposite of doubt and fear?)*

Christ's use of the phrase "every thought" essentially means always. We need to turn to him always. What is the opposite of doubt and fear? Belief and faith. Have faith in Christ. 

Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (What does Christ feed us? How can His word heal us?)

We know from the gospels, that when Christ talks about bread (food) and water, He's talking about the word of God. And I think it's safe to say this is what is going on here as well. The Lamb feeding us and leading us to water, is giving us the word of God - reading our scriptures, listening to general conference, testimonies, etc. How can the word of God heal us? Priesthood blessings can heal us physically and spiritually. The knowledge of Christ's love can heal us spiritually. The knowledge of the plan of salvation can bring us hope, which can also heal spiritually. 

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;  he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (How does Christ use others to help us heal? How can we be used to help others heal?)

In this verse, Christ states that Heavenly Father sent him to earth to do several things, healing being one of them. Yet, Christ is not here the way he was during his mortal ministry. Even though he can and still does heal us; one way he heals us is through other people. This can be a physical healing that a doctor performs, or it can be spiritual and mental healing that family, friends, neighbors, and ward members can perform. 

What do we do once we are healed?

Mosiah 24:14 "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." (What does Christ expect us to do when he eases our burdens?) 

When I read this verse the second half stuck out to me. Christ wants us to share our experiences and testify that He does heal, comfort, and liberate. 

Christ can heal us when we have faith, turn to him, and bind ourselves to him. Once we have turned t o him he will feed us with the word of God, heal our broken hearts, liberate us, and comfort us. And when we have experienced that healing and comfort, we need to share our experiences as a witness to others the Christ does heal because He loves us. 

*Note: I used this blog post as my lesson plan, so the questions in parenthesis are what I verbally asked during my lesson.

RS Lesson: How to Love Your Enemy, According to President Oaks

 On Sunday, January 24, I taught Relief Society in my ward. The talk I chose was "Love Your Enemy" by President Dallin H. Oaks. I have loved this talk since listening to it the first time last October. I felt very strongly to choose this talk for my RS lesson, but because of the very obvious political undertones, I originally shied away from it because I didn't want my lesson to turn into a political soap box. I read a few other talks trying to find one to choose, but the spirit kept bringing me back to this one. As I reread it, I noticed two parallel messages: 1. the political one, and 2. a "how-to" for loving one's enemies. For my lesson, I focused on message number two. 

The first thing I did before diving into the content of President Oak's talk, was define the word, enemy. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary enemy is: "One that is antagonistic to another, especially one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent; something harmful or deadly; a military adversary; a hostile unit or force." Also, in the footnote for Matthew 5:44, the word enemy sends us to the topical guide Opponent. And in the New Testament Student Manual, the expansion for that verse talks about forgiving those who have harmed or injured us. So, for the context of this lesson, the term enemy can by anyone that we feel either negative feelings towards or they have hurt us.

Christ's teachings that President Oak's derives his talk from is Matthew 5:43-44:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love they neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

The New Testament Student Manual explains the historical and cultural context behind "hate thine enemy:"

“The commandment ‘Love thy neighbor’ is found in Leviticus 19:18, but no scripture in the Old Testament commands us to hate thine enemy. It appears the Savior was referring to a saying common in His day. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1946 may reveal that some Jews at the time of Christ did in fact teach that they should love fellow members of their community but hate outsiders.” - Chapter 3

So, how do we place ourselves in the mindset to love, bless, do good to, and pray for those who we feel negative feelings towards?

According to President Oaks, the following actions will help.

Do not have the Spirit of Contention in your heart

3 Nephi 11:28-30 "...And there shall be no disputations among you, as there hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.

For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.”

I have always loved verse 28, it is marked in my personal scriptures. This time, reading these verses the phrase "the spirit of contention is not of me" stuck out. When we are defending our religious beliefs - a righteous endeavor - if we do so with aggressive words and tone, the message will be lost, the Holy Ghost will leave, and the Spirit of Contention will be present.

Ask the Lord for help

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Follow the law

President Oak's said, "How do we keep these divine commandments in a world where we are also subject to the laws of man?... we are to follow the laws of men… to live peacefully under civil authority, and we follow the laws of God toward our eternal destination… Though Jesus’s teachings were revolutionary, He did not teach revolution or law breaking."

We also have D&C 58:21-22 "Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.

Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under his feet."

And the 12th Article of Faith: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

Get to know them

President Oaks said, "In countless circumstances, strangers’ suspicion or even hostility give way to friendship or even love when personal contacts produce understanding and mutual respect...The Savior’s teaching to love our enemies is based on the reality that all mortals are beloved children of God.”

My senior year in high school, there was a girl in one of my classes who drove me crazy. I thought she was so annoying amongst other verbs. Over the course of the school year, I got to know her and we became good friends. I never told her that I started out the school year not liking her, but in my yearbook she wrote that she did not like me at the beginning of the school year and she was so glad that she gave me a chance and got to know me.

Understand what love is

President Oaks provided several quotes from other prophets and apostles defining love. In summary, you can't give love, if you don't know what it is.

I testify from personal experience that these actions work in creating love in your heart for those you currently do not love. If you have not read President Oaks' talk recently, I highly recommend that you sit down and do so.

Sacrament Meeting Talk: How The Book of Mormon Has Blessed Me and My Family

Today I  gave a short talk in my ward's sacrament meeting. The topic I was given is: how The Book of Mormon has blessed me and my family during these trying times.

To be honest, when the first presidency announced the cancellation of Sunday worship services back in March, I cried. Sunday is one of the few times a week that I get face-to-face adult interaction. Before all of this, I used to read my scriptures while I ate my breakfast. After taking Benjamin to school, I would get the girls focused on their toys or a movie, and I would enjoy breakfast by myself with my scriptures. My copy of Come, Follow Me is full of notes until April. With everyone home, I'm lucky to zoom through a chapter, but there is not much time for self-reflection. 

Despite my struggles with personal study, our family study has increased and prospered. On Sundays, we have a family Church service in our home. We sing the hymns that Sister Struthers shares on the ward page, Gerson blesses the Sacrament and passes it, and I teach a full length primary lesson to our three children. I would like to highlight two sections of the Book of Mormon that talk about a parent's responsibility to their children.

Jacob 1:18-19 says,

"For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day."

I am responsible for my children's actions if I don't teach them right from wrong. 

In the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families, Enos 1:1-3 is highlighted with the question about what those verses mean for parents and children. Enos said that he remembered the things that his dad taught him. In my copy, I wrote: "Teach truth, children will remember what we teach them."

Topics that our at-home Primary has covered so far:

• Jesus Christ
• Prophets are seers, they teach about Jesus, we should listen to and follow them
• Put trust in God
• Mosiah 7:33 "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." 
• The 10 Commandments
• Repentance and Forgiveness
• Missionary work
• Practiced saying, "The Book of Mormon teaches about Jesus Christ."
• Service
• Prayer
• Testimony
• Resurrection

To teach these topics to my children I have used the Book of Mormon Stories illustrated book, and I highlight 1-3 verses from The Book of Mormon. 

Focusing on Primary during our at-home worship services has helped me be directly involved in my children's religious education. Not that I wasn't before. We have always done FHE and family scripture study, but at the same time I have always relied on nursery and primary teachers to help with that. Now I'm doing it all. This has also helped all of us to share more personal stories to serve as examples for the topics we are teaching and discussing. And my children have been very comfortable sharing their thoughts and asking questions. I taught them how to share a testimony, and both Benjamin and Luna have shared their testimonies on Fast Sunday. My mom and my dad also join us. My dad is inactive, so this has been really special for us to have him there. 

I would like to end by sharing my favorite Book of Mormon verses about Jesus Christ.

Alma 7:11-12

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

Jesus Christ knows how to comfort us, because he knows how we feel. I have loved these two verses long before the current crisis hit our family, but I find that this time of emotional and financial struggle makes these verses even more relevant as Gerson and I have had to lean on each other and Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the experience to study The Book of Mormon so closely as a family. I have really enjoyed teaching my children and watching them think it over and figure out the messages as we talk about it on their level. Focusing on them and teaching them has been the biggest blessing that has come out of all of this. 

Relief Society Lesson: Women's Roles in the Restoration

This month's Relief Society post is about Sister Joy D. Jones' most recent general conference talk "An Especially Noble Calling."

In her opening statement Sister Jones lists several roles women can have throughout their lives: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, leader, exemplar, and devout defender of the faith. She quotes President Nelson, "Take your rightful and needful place in your home, in your community, and in the kingdom of God." Did you catch that? Women have a rightful and needful place not just at home, but in the community, and most importantly in God's kingdom.

What roles do you fulfill in your home? What roles do you fulfill in your community?

What is a woman's role in the kingdom of God? According to Sister Jones, receiving our own revelation. She said, "I believe He (Heavenly Father) expects us to receive revelation from Him." How do we open up our hearts to receiving revelation?

• "We labor under difficulties.
• We turn to the scriptures to receive wisdom to act.
• We demonstrate our faith and trust in God.
• We exert our power to plead with God to help us thwart the adversary's influence.
• We offer up the desires of our hearts to God.
• We focus on His light guiding our life choices and resting upon us when we turn to Him.
• We realize He knows each of us by name and has individual roles for us to fulfill." 

In an interview with Sister Jones and some primary children, President Nelson said that "the Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards." Fulfilling our roles, including receiving revelation, requires hard work and study. This allows us to progress, and we will never stop progressing; and because we are always progressing, Heavenly Father does not expect perfection. Sister Jones said that it is important to know that our pursuits are approved of God. How do you know that revelation you have received came from God?

Latter-day women are not the first to receive revelation from our Heavenly Father. He has been talking to His daughters since the beginning of time. Some are directly recorded in the scriptures, a few examples are: Eve, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, King Lamoni's wife, and Emma Smith. Others are implied: Jochebed (Moses' mother), Ruth, Esther, and Sariah (from the Book of Mormon). I have been reading Saints Volume I, and there are so many women in the early history of the restored Church who received personal revelation.

Sister Jones brought up something that I think many of us can connect with: "general conference overwhelm." She said that we "leave so determined to do it all now. Women wear many hats, but it is impossible, and unnecessary, to wear them all at once. The Spirit helps us determine which work to focus on today.  The Lord's loving influence through the Holy Ghost helps us know His priority for our progression. Heeding personal revelation leads to personal progression... Our continuing role is to receive continuing revelation."

This part of her talk resonated so much with me because I definitely get overwhelmed with every aspect of my life trying to accomplish it all. I go to bed every night with several things undone, and sometimes it really brings me down. On days that I am able to keep the Spirit with me for most of the day, I focus on the necessities and go to bed feeling good.

Have you experienced this before? How did you prioritize? 

Doctrine and Covenants 42:61 says, "If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things - that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal."

And D&C 18:18 "Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men."

Along with revelation, women also have access to the priesthood. Sister Jones said, "We access the power of the priesthood through covenants, made first in the waters of baptism and then within the walls of the holy temples. President Nelson taught us, "Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God." 

This is also explained in Doctrine and Covenants 84:20-21 "Therefore in the ordinances thereof, and the power of the godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh."

Sister Jones concluded, "In the final analysis of women's continuing roles in the Restoration, and for us all, what role is preeminent? I testify that it is to hear Him, to follow Him, to trust Him, and to become an extension of His love."

Hearing Him is revelation. Following Him, trusting Him, and becoming an extension of His love are acting on revelation.

I believe Sister Jones' declaration that receiving personal revelation is a role that women can and should fulfill. I have experienced personal revelation for myself and revelation for my immediate family. God speaks to me, and he can speak to you as well.

For Personal Reflection: Am I actively seeking revelation? Do I know when thoughts and ideas come from God? How do I respond to revelation?

Relief Society Lesson: "There and Back Again" A Disciple's Adventure

If we weren't currently practicing social distancing, I would be teaching Relief Society this Sunday, March 22. The talk I would have taught from is "Your Great Adventure" by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and I decided to write a regular blog post on his talk. I invite anyone who wants to - brother or sister, ward member or not - to answer any of the questions or share any related thoughts in the comments, so that we can still participate in spiritual discussion even though we cannot meet together in person.

Elder Uchtdorf begins his talk by using the story of The Hobbit as a parallel for a our decision to leave Heaven and come to earth. He said:

"Long, ago, even before we were born, in an age dimmed by time and clouded from memory, we too were invited to embark on an adventure. It was proposed by God, our Heavenly Father. Accepting this adventure would mean leaving the comfort and security of His immediate presence. It would mean coming to earth for a journey filled with unknown danger and trial."

 Elder Uchtdorf then reminded us of what we knew before we agreed to Heavenly Father's plan:

• It would not be easy.
• We would gain a physical body.
• We would feel joy and sorrow.
• We would learn truth.
• We would make mistakes.
• The sacrifice of Jesus Christ - which would us to be cleansed from our transgressions and one day be resurrected - was already planned and promised to us.
• God loves us.

Elder Uchtdorf said that there must have been some things we knew that scared us since many of our spirit brothers and sisters chose not to come to earth and receive a body. Those of us who are here obviously chose to come, we accepted this adventure. Based on the above bullet points, what do you think made this adventure appealing to our spirits? What makes it appealing to you right now?

Sometimes we get distracted and prefer a comfortable natural-man type of life over the growth and progress that living the gospel brings us. I would like to take a small tangent to remind us of the 3 Ds of the adversary from a previous lesson: deception, distraction, discouragement. The four ways to over come those are: love God, pray, read the book of Mormon, take the Sacrament. When the adversary tries to pull us from the path, we can use the truths of the restored gospel to get us back on. Elder Uchtdorf said:

"The restored gospel is, in a sense, a renewal of the call to adventure we accepted so long ago. The Savior invites us, each day, to set aside our comforts and securities and join Him on the journey of discipleship."

We can succeed in this adventure by doing three things:

1. Incline your heart to God
2. Reach out in love to others
3. Share your story 

Incline Your Heart to God

"You need to choose to incline your heart to God. Strive each day to find Him. Learn to love Him. And then let that love inspire you to learn, understand, and follow His teachings and learn to keep God's commandments."

"If you hesitate in this adventure because you doubt your ability, remember that discipleship is not about doing things perfectly; its about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities."

"All God asks is that you consciously keep striving."

What have your experiences been with trying for intentional discipleship? How has intentional discipleship helped you grow closer to God?



Reach Out in Love to Others

"The only way for you to progress in your gospel adventure is to help others progress as well. To help others is the path of discipleship."

"But this love cannot come with expectations of repayment. It cannot be the kind of service that expects recognition, adulation, or favor."

I personally see a connection between needing to help and serve others in order for progression and living as families; along with the teachings found in both the scriptures and preached over the pulpit to be one and be united. Also, the mindset that we don't expect anything in return for service is important so that we are serving for the right reasons. How can this mindset help us in how we serve and how we view service?


Share Your Story

"Take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and not be ashamed of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. We do not hide our faith. We do not bury it...we talk about our journey with others in normal and natural ways...You tell your stories and experiences as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Elder Uchtdorf references Matthew 28:16-20, in which Jesus is speaking with his disciples for the last time, and this is what he tells them:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)

 We are to testify of Christ, and share our experiences. What experiences have you had inviting someone to an activity or sharing your testimony? Or, have you been the one invited? What happened?

Elder Uchtdorf encouraged us not to wait for the "perfect moment," but to start being a disciple right away. His invitation is for everyone:

"To those of us already walking that path, take courage, exercise compassion, have confidence, and continue! 

To those who have left the path, please come back, join again with us, make us stronger.

And to those who have not yet begun, why delay?...Speak with the missionaries. Speak with your Latter-day Saint friends."

Elder Uchrdof ends with four promises of what we will discover if we accept the adventure of discipleship:

1. You will discover yourself.
2. You will discover meaning.
3. You will discover God.
4. You will discover the most adventurous and glorious journey of your life.

For personal reflection: When it comes to discipleship, what am I doing well? Where can I improve?

Once again, I invite you to answer the questions and/or share your thoughts in the comments. 

Relief Society Lesson: The Second Great Commandment Leads to Service

This month my Relief Society lesson was on "The Second Great Commandment" by President Russell M. Nelson. 

This talk is less of a traditional talk, and more of a summary and statistics report of the service the Church has provided worldwide - which is great information; but I struggled turning it into a lesson. I felt inspired to separate all of the examples into broader categories and ask my fellow sisters to share ideas and examples of service in those categories at a local level.

We started off by identifying the first and second great commandments: 1. Love God with all your heart. 2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Of these two commandments, President Nelson said, "When we love God with all our hearts, He turns our hearts to the well-being of others in a beautiful virtuous cycle."

Service can sometimes be stressful for me, because I want to do it perfectly or make a big impact. And the examples given in this talk, while amazing acts of service, did just that. So, with the goal of putting everyone in the right frame of mind, I brought in Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson's talk "The Needs Before Us." She said:

"I think that sometimes it's easy to miss some of the greatest opportunities to serve others because we are distracted or because we are looking for ambitious ways to change the world and we don't see that some of the most significant needs we can meet are within our own families, among our friends, in our wards, and in our communities. We are touched when we see the suffering and great needs of those halfway around the world, but we may fail to see there is a person who needs our friendship sitting right next to us in class... 

...What good does it do to save the world if we neglect the needs of those closest to us and those whom we love the most? How much value is there in fixing the world if the people around us are falling apart and we don't notice? Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us, knowing that we are best suited to meet their needs."

At this point, one sister expressed that for moms of young kids, taking care of our families and raising our children is service. She also said that giving someone a genuine smile or sitting with them and talking with them at church is service.

I introduced the service categories we would be discussing: 1. Financial assistance, 2. Food, water, etc., 3. Spiritual/Emotional. In reference to all types of service, President Nelson said, "This assistance is offered to recipients regardless of their church affiliation, nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, or political persuasion."

Financial Assistance

Deuteronomy 15:11 "For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto they brother, to they poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."

Notice that the verb used is command. It is a commandment to care for the poor. President Nelson shared two examples in his talk: 1. The Church donated labor and modest financial assistance to the mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand that had been devastated by a shooting. 2. Back in the '80's fast offerings in Ethiopia totaled above what was needed, and the surplus sent elsewhere, leading to the creation of Latter-day Saint Charities.

When discussing financial assistance at a local level, I gave the example of a sister in the ward and I who babysit each other's kids for free. We don't keep a tally to make sure it's even, we just do it to help each other out. Another sister emphasized that we do help locally and globally with our fast offerings. That money starts local is then sent to the next need. We don't know exactly where our fast offerings go, but we know they are helping someone.

Food, Water, etc.

Matthew 25:35-36, 40

"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

When we serve others, we are serving Christ. One sister shared that a couple of years ago when there were fires in Spanish Fork Canyon, the houses closest to the mountain had to be evacuated. The Red Cross set up tents for people to stay in, but no one came because everyone was invited to stay in the house of someone else nearby. Another sister shared the idea of providing a spiritual or emotional shelter, where when people visit our homes they can feel the Spirit, and receive peace and comfort from the rest of the world.

The Church has donated wheelchairs, water, and emergency supplies. There are 124 Bishop Storehouses worldwide. Vision care and newborn care is available to those in need; and the helping hands program provides first responders to disaster relief. At a local level we talked about compassionate service, which covers so much.

Spiritual/Emotional

Mosiah 18:8-9

"...as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light.

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life."

We spent this section going into depth on what it means to mourn and comfort. A couple of sisters shared  how it comforts them when people are able to know and understand how they are feeling. That led to a follow up question: How do we mourn with or comfort someone who is going through something we haven't? We talked about providing a listening ear free of judgment and advice. We talked about using the Spirit to guide us on how to serve someone.

At the end of his talk, President Nelson said:

"Giving help to others - making a conscientious effort to care about others as much as or more than we care about ourselves - is our joy. Especially, I might add, when it is not convenient and when it takes us out of our comfort zone. Living that second great commandment is the key to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ."  

This statement summarizes what I was trying to emphasize during this lesson: Our love of God and each other leads to service. We should allow ourselves to serve when it might appear inconvenient or be uncomfortable, because we will grow in that experience; and serving with the right heart will bring us joy.

Relief Society Lesson: Overcoming the 3 Ds of the Adversary

On Sunday January 26th, 2020 my Relief Society discussed the general conference talk "Power to Overcome the Adversary" by Elder Peter M. Johnson of the Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Johnson opened up his talk with sharing quotes that remind us of our identity as sons and daughters of God, and that endows us with divine power.

"All human beings - male and female - are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each as divine nature and destiny." - The Family: A Proclamation to the World

"We are "choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work." - D&C 138:53

"You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures with you!" - President Russell M. Nelson

Elder Johnson said that this knowledge of who we are would be tested by the adversary in three main ways:

Deception
Distraction
Discouragement

Because I knew that we would not have time to cover the whole talk, I skipped going into detail about the three Ds and went to the end of his talk when Elder Johnson identified the tools we already have to overcome the three Ds. I also felt like talking about these tools first was more important because they are tools we should already be working on, and not wait until Satan is tempting us.

The first tool is the first great commandment: to love God. We read two scripture verses:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, y are only in the service of your God." - Mosiah 2:17

The sisters in my ward focused the discussion on viewing and loving others the way that God sees them. This will help us be more patient and understanding towards those who are different, and will ultimately lead us to actually loving them.

The second tool is to pray: "every day, every day, every day." 

One sister shared an experience where she woke up suddenly at five in the morning and felt very strongly to get on her knees and pray for her son. Later that day, she was talking to him on the phone and he said that at that same time he had been driving and felt himself falling asleep at the wheel, and then he felt awake.

Two other sisters shared how impressed they are with the kind of prayers their young children give. One said that her daughter without prompting will ask Heavenly Father to help her make good choices. Another shared that her daughter prays for her mom's health every time she prays, no matter what kind of prayer it is: bedtime, dinner, primary, etc.

I shared something a visiting teaching companion taught me several years ago: when you pray, pause throughout your prayer and listen to the Spirit, he might inspire you to say something more.

The third tool is to read The Book of Mormon: "every day, every day, every day."

Elder Johnson shared that when he reads The Book of Mormon, he has a question in his mind. I then asked the sisters in my ward to share their Book of Mormon study tips and habits.

A couple of sisters shared how they were already reading The Book of Mormon at the start of the new year, but they were inspired to start over and follow the Come, Follow Me schedule, because they believe it is important and helpful that the entire Church is essentially studying The Book of Mormon together.

Another sister - who is learning English - said that she gets double the study time because she reads one verse in Spanish and then the same verse in English; and it has really helped her study the gospel in her native language and in English as well. Things are worded differently in each language, and it has been a huge blessing for her to study both.

Another sister shared that she reads all of the additional scripture verses and talks that are suggested in the Come, Follow Me chapters for each section.

The fourth tool is to partake of the Sacrament: "every week, every week, every week."

I asked the sisters if they would be willing to share experiences where they can feel the affects and blessings of the Sacrament after they leave the church building and go about their week. Collectively we discussed that we really feel the difference when we don't partake of the Sacrament. Our week feels dark, we have less patience, inspiration and revelation is harder to come by. Many sisters testified of how important the Sacrament is. 

We ended with self-reflection questions on the 3Ds:

Deception

"We are created in God's own image, and He has a work for us to do. The adversary attempts to deceive by having us forget who we are, then it is difficult to recognize who we can become."

What identity deceptions has Satan thrown at you?

How can/have you overcome those deceptions?

Distraction

"The adversary also attempts to distract us away from Christ and His covenant path...In our day, there are many distractions, including Twitter, Facebook, virtual reality games, and much more. These technological advances are amazing, but if we are not careful, they can distract us from fulfilling our divine potential. Using them appropriately can bring forth the power of heaven and allow us to witness miracles as we seek to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil."

Choose a distraction:

How can the above distraction be used appropriately and with divine purpose?

Discouragement

"Lastly, the adversary desires for us to become discouraged. We may get discouraged when we compare ourselves to others or feel we are not living up to expectations, including our own...please do not let anyone steal your happiness. Do not compare yourself to others. Please remember the loving words of the Savior: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'"

Think of a time you were discouraged. How did you overcome it? If you are currently discouraged, is there anything from today that can help you?