Stay by the Tree

 The conference talk from Elder Kevin W. Pearson was the main focus in Sister N's lesson. Here is a link to it. This would be a great FHE lesson by the way. :) 

President Heber C. Grant's example is a striking reminder that no one, at any age, is immune from Satan’s influence. Two of Satan’s most powerful tools are distraction and deception. It was said that enduring to the end is a hallmark of true discipleship and is essential to eternal life. The phrase "hang in there" is not a principle of the gospel. However, enduring to the end is essential for our eternal progression. 

In his talk,  he says, "Lehi’s vision of the tree of life is a powerful parable on enduring to the end. Please prayerfully study and ponder Lehi’s dream; then liken it unto yourself. As you do, carefully consider six important principles that help us endure to the end.

1. Don't forget to pray----Each of us experiences periods of darkness and loneliness. “When life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray.”  Pray for strength to endure to the end.

(click to enlarge)--super helpful!

2. Come unto Christ and Be Perfected in Him---To realize this gift, we must “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” He is “the way, the truth, and the life.”

3. Press Forward with Faith --God’s commandments are strict but not restrictive. They protect us from spiritual and physical danger and prevent us from getting lost. Obedience builds faith in Christ. Faith is a principle of action and power. 

4. The Book of Mormon is key to spiritual survival--Life’s journey is challenging. It’s easy to be distracted, wander off the path, and get lost. Tribulation is an inevitable and indispensable part of our eternal progression. When adversity comes, don’t let something you don’t fully understand unravel everything you do know. Be patient, cling to truth; understanding will come. Trials are like great mists of darkness that can blind our eyes and harden our hearts. Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It’s the key to spiritual survival.

5. Don't be distracted and deceived---Heeding those who do not believe in Christ will not help you find Him. Searching #spaciousbuilding for knowledge will not lead you to truth. It’s not posted there. Only the Savior has “the words of eternal life.”   

One sister shared this quote that was given in a conference talk to YW, but it fits perfect on be deceived. Elder Holland said, "One would truly need a great and spacious makeup kit to compete with beauty as portrayed in media all around us. Yet at the end of the day there would still be those "in the attitude of mocking and point their fingers" as Lehi saw (1 Nephi 8:27) because however much one tries in the world of glamour and fashion, it will never be glamorous enough.”

6. Stay by the tree---Lehi’s message is to stay by the tree. We stay because we are converted unto the Lord.  When we become deeply converted unto the Lord, we should no longer seek the spacious building.

I love how his talk says  that, "True disciples continue to awaken unto God each day in meaningful personal prayer, earnest scripture study, personal obedience, and selfless service. Stay by the tree and stay awake."

Another important point:  It requires valiant discipleship! There is no room for average or complacent disciples. Average is the enemy of excellence, and average commitment will prevent you from enduring to the end.

Last important point: If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again to prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and live its teachings every day, every day, every day!  The Holy Ghost will change your heart and help you see “things as they really are.

Seek the Spirit

Seek the Spirit in All You Do

We learned lesson #12 this week, and it can be found here: 12

How do we seek the spirit in all that we do?

Daily Scripture Study: take time to invite the spirit into your home through daily scripture study.
We cannot know God and Jesus without studying about them and then doing their will. This course leads to additional revealed knowledge which, if obeyed, will eventually lead us to further truths. If we follow this pattern, we will receive further light and joy, eventually leading into God’s presence, where we, with Him, will have a fullness.

Sincere Fasting and Prayer:
**Fasting: Do what you can. What your body can handle. Many physically cannot go without food due to many reasons, ei- medications, pregnancy, other health issues. Do what works for you. Fast from sweets or anything that will bring that spirit into your life.
One sister compared fasting to going to the Temple. Both are a process of purification and cleansing.

Our prayers must be offered in the same spirit and with the same fervor as were the prayers of Enos in the Book of Mormon. Most are familiar with that inspiring story, so I will not repeat the background. I only want to draw your attention to these words. Enos testified: “I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.” He clarified that wrestle with God. Note the fervor in his petition:

“My soul hungered.”

“I kneeled down before my Maker.”

“I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul.”

“All day long did I cry unto him.”

Then Enos testified, “There came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. … Wherefore, my guilt was swept away.” When he inquired of the Lord how this had been accomplished, the Lord answered him: “Because of thy faith in Christ … thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Enos 1:2, 4–8; italics added.)

If you want to get the spirit of your office and calling … try fasting for a period. I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.

 

Strive to Have the Holy Ghost:

We have been taught that the Spirit will not dwell in unclean tabernacles [see Helaman 4:24]. Therefore, one of our first priorities is to make sure our own personal lives are in order.

 

We have been promised the Holy Ghost will be with us at all times, in all places and in all things if we strive to do what is right. Obedience is the key to having the Holy Ghost with us.

Chapter 11: Follow the prophet

Chapter 11: Follow the Prophet

This lesson was taught by asking two questions to the sisters. Basically, we taught teach other about how to follow the words of the prophet. 

President Benson said, "Learn to keep your eye on the prophet. He is the Lord’s mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today. Let his inspired counsel take precedence. Let his inspired words be a basis for evaluating the counsel of all lesser authorities. Then live close to the Spirit so you may know the truth of all things."

1. How do you keep "an eye" on the prophet? What does this mean to you?

* help to be comforted and how there are many great things in the world. 
* seek the Ensign from cover to cover for inspiration
* watch or listen to conferences
* use handheld devices that have church websites on it. 
* read books that members of the presidency have written
* youtube videos
* visit LDS.org
* Mormon channel
* facebook memes
* DVD, tapes, or CDs of the conferences. 

2. How do we follow the words of the prophets?

* one sister was inspired to buy food storage instead of having a honeymoon. 

* one sister heard a talk by Boyd K. Packer who said to not ask for callings or turn down callings
In his talk, he said, " We do not aspire to calls in the Church, nor do we ask to be released. We are called to positions in the Church by inspiration. Even if the call is presented in a clumsy way, it is not wise for us to refuse the call. We must presuppose that the call comes from the Lord. The fifth article of faith tells us that we “must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”

If some circumstance makes it difficult for you to continue to serve, you are free to consult with the leader who called you.  We do not call ourselves and we do not release ourselves. Sometimes a leader or a teacher enjoys the prominence of a presiding position so much that, even after serving for a long time, they do not want to be released. That is a sign that a  release is timely.  We should do as we are called. We should accept the calls and accept a release by the same authority.

When President J. Reuben Clark was called as second counselor in the First Presidency after having served for many years as first counselor, he responded at the Solemn Assembly where the sustaining of the new First Presidency took place: “In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines” (CR, Apr. 1951, p. 154). The Church had been taught a very valuable lesson in the unwritten order of things.

I learned years ago that we do not choose where we serve—we just answer the call. Soon after our marriage, I was called as an assistant stake clerk. My bishop did not want to release me as Gospel Doctrine teacher. He told me that I had much more to offer as a teacher than in the very obscure assignment as assistant stake clerk. But he knew that, under the unwritten order of  things, the stake president presided and that his call took precedence.?

* read the scriptures
* learn to listen to counsel and act upon it. 

That was it! If you would like to read more of the lesson, click the link above.

Abby

   Part of Bonnie L. Oscarson's talk that was used for Sunday's lesson was about her daughter Abby. Her is how Abby was a defender of the proclamation.

 

Our youngest daughter, Abby, saw a unique opportunity to stand as a defender of the role of mother. One day she got a notice from her children’s school that they were having Career Day presentations at the school. Parents were invited to send in an application if they wanted to come to school to teach the children about their jobs, and Abby felt impressed to apply to come and speak about motherhood. She didn’t hear back from the school, and when Career Day was getting close, she finally called the school, thinking they may have lost her application. The organizers scrambled around and found two teachers who agreed to have Abby come talk to their classes at the end of Career Day.

In her very fun presentation to the children, Abby taught them, among other things, that as a mother she needed to be somewhat of an expert in medicine, psychology, religion, teaching, music, literature, art, finance, decorating, hair styling, chauffeuring, sports, culinary arts, and so much more. The children were impressed. She finished by having the children remember their mothers by writing thank-you notes expressing gratitude for the many loving acts of service they received daily. Abby felt that the children saw their mothers in a whole new light and that being a mother or father was something of great worth. She applied to share again this year at Career Day and was invited to present to six classes.

Abby has said of her experience: “I feel like it could be easy in this world for a child to get the sense that being a parent is a secondary job or even sometimes a necessary inconvenience. I want every child to feel like they are the most important priority to their parent, and maybe telling them how important being a parent is to me will help them realize all that their parents do for them and why.”

Fast Sunday Lesson

What were you doing on September 23, 1995?

 

Personally I was in my first year of high school as a freshman.

One sister in Relief Society was starting 5th grade.

A sister was heavily pregnant with her first baby.

 

What were you doing?

 

September 23, 1995 is the day that The Family, A Proclamation to the World was given at the Relief Society broadcast.

 

Today's lesson was based on the talk given by Bonnie L. Oscarson's talk: Defenders of the Family Proclamation

 

I recently read the story of Marie Madeline Cardon, who, with her family, received the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from the first missionaries called to serve in Italy in 1850. She was a young woman of 17 or 18 years of age when they were baptized. One Sunday, while the family was holding a worship service in their home high in the Alps of northern Italy, an angry mob of men, including some of the local ministers, gathered around the house and began shouting, yelling, and calling for the missionaries to be brought outside. I don’t think they were anxious to be taught the gospel—they intended bodily harm. It was young Marie who marched out of the house to confront the mob.

They continued their vicious yells and demands for the missionaries to be brought out. Marie raised her Bible up in her hand and commanded them to depart. She told them that the elders were under her protection and that they could not harm one hair of their heads. Listen to her own words: “All stood aghast. … God was with me. He placed those words in my mouth, or I could not have spoken them. All was calm, instantly. That strong ferocious body of men stood helpless before a weak, trembling, yet fearless girl.” The ministers asked the mob to leave, which they did quietly in shame, fear, and remorse. The small flock completed their meeting in peace.¹

Can’t you just picture that brave young woman, the same age as many of you, standing up to a mob and defending her newly found beliefs with courage and conviction?

 

When President Gordon B. Hinckley first read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” 20 years ago this year, we were grateful for and valued the clarity, simplicity, and truth of this revelatory document. Little did we realize then how very desperately we would need these basic declarations in today’s world as the criteria by which we could judge each new wind of worldly dogma coming at us from the media, the Internet, scholars, TV and films, and even legislators. The proclamation on the family has become our benchmark for judging the philosophies of the world, and I testify that the principles set forth within this statement are as true today as they were when they were given to us by a prophet of God nearly 20 years ago.

 

May I point out something obvious? Life rarely goes exactly according to plan for anyone, and we are very aware that not all women are experiencing what the proclamation describes. It is still important to understand and teach the Lord’s pattern and strive for the realization of that pattern the best we can.

 

Sister Oscarson talked about 3 principals that need defenders:

1. Marriage between a man and a woman. 

 “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 11:11

 

2. Elevating the Divine rolls of mothers and fathers.

Do we also teach our sons and daughters there is no greater honor, no more elevated title, and no more important role in this life than that of mother or father? I would hope that as we encourage our children to reach for the very best in this life that we also teach them to honor and exalt the roles that mothers and fathers play in Heavenly Father’s plan.

 

3. Stand and defend the sanctity of our home.

We need to take a term which is sometimes spoken of with derision and elevate it. It is the term homemaker. Our homes should be places where the Spirit of the Lord is felt in rich abundance and where the scriptures and the gospel are studied, taught, and lived. What a difference it would make in the world if all people would see themselves as makers of righteous homes. Let us defend the home as a place which is second only to the temple in holiness.

 

The Lord needs us to be brave, steadfast, and immovable warriors who will defend His plan and teach the upcoming generations His truths.

 

James E. Faust had this to say: A year ago in this meeting, President Gordon B. Hinckley, speaking for the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, announced and read the Proclamation on the Family. Because you mothers are the heart and soul of any family, it was appropriate that it was first read in the General Relief Society Meeting.

 

Sister Oscarson offered this challenge to us:
During this 20th anniversary year of the family proclamation, I would like to issue a challenge for all of us as women of the Church to be defenders of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Just as Marie Madeline Cardon courageously defended the missionaries and her newly found beliefs, we need to boldly defend the Lord’s revealed doctrines describing marriage, families, the divine roles of men and women, and the importance of homes as sacred places—even when the world is shouting in our ears that these principles are outdated, limiting, or no longer relevant. Everyone, no matter what their marital circumstance or number of children, can be defenders of the Lord’s plan described in the family proclamation. If it is the Lord’s plan, it should also be our plan!

 

The Family: A Proclamation to the World