Monday, March 20, 2017

Doctrine & Covenants Lesson # 12 “The Gathering of My People” -- Sara




Here is one of the scripture passages for this week, look for the promises and gifts God will give you as you help gather his elect:

D&C 29:1-8
1 Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;
2 Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.
3 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that at this time your sins are forgiven you, therefore ye receive these things; but remember to sin no more, lest perils shall come upon you.
4 Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing, as with the voice of a trump.
5 Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.
6 And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.
7 And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;
8 Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.
This week, I would really like you to go on to everydaymissionaries.org and read through some of the ideas we discussed in class and application of these ideas through the different experiences people share. Remember, just as it was brought up in class, there is no template for missionary work. But I really believe that the more ways we learn and see other people doing missionary work, the more we can learn by the spirit to apply it into our lives with the people we know. If that wasn't the case, then there are a whole slew of missionary stories in the Book of Mormon that are there for no reason. We need to see examples. We need to hear ideas. Success stories strengthen our faith.

Here are the testimonies from our class. I've left them anonymous because I didn't warn you. Here are some of your testimonies about Christ:
I've learned from the Christ scripture challenge that God wants us to be educated and use our skills for good. I was impressed by the scripture "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, harmless as doves." in Matthew

We have loved studying the scriptures of Christ. I learned in Mark 1:17 that Christ tells us to come follow him, and he will help us to BECOME a disciple of Christ. It is a lifelong process, and I want to continue repenting and changing and to become more like my savior.

I also learned from the sermon on the mount about our savior's example to be agreeable. This means to me that we can be peacemakers AND stand up for truth and righteousness.

From reading the scriptures about Christ, I have learned how much Jesus loved and cared about all people. It has given me a greater desire to pay attention to the needs of all people I come in contact with. It has taught me to serve and love others unconditionally.

I've been working on the reading challenge and before I started I just had a thought of I wonder if Jesus had siblings or technically half siblings. I figured he did just couldn't ever remember hearing about them. Then in one of the first few verses I read that he had 4 brothers and a few sisters. It was a small thing but a testimony to me that I would be learning a lot through this challenge.

What I've learned: Jesus teaching at the Temple when 12 At TWELVE! Understanding his mission and his comment to his parents when they found him.

I've learned in the scripture study that the savior did a LOT in his ministry, in three short years. It was packed with service, and we probably don't know everything that he did. He is amazing!

I am doing the scripture challenge and I'm not even behind! Woohoo!!!! Oddly enough, I feel like I've learned a lot about the people who were around Christ, which wasn't what I expected. I think a lot about how they felt, what they really understood, and why they acted the way they did. Did Pilate look around at the people he was governing and feel disappointed or disgusted to be one of their leaders? How did the disciples view and understand Christ's miracles?... I think I've learned a lot about Christ too. I've been insanely excited about Easter after reading about the resurrection. It's been really cool to read everything in order, from multiple books. It really gets certain events and teachings to stick.

So far I'm loving the scripture challenge. I like how it's lined up in chronological order. Even being where I am in the reading I feel more of a connection with Christ than I did before. I think it's a great idea to have this invitation to everyone.

The scripture challenge has made it more enjoyable to read scriptures in my home for all of us and especially my toddler.
Thank you so much for sharing those testimonies of what you are learning about Christ! They really help to strengthen my faith. Here are some of the things people shared about how they are building the kingdom in our ward:
I'm doing my best to be friendly and help make people comfortable and happy to be in church and church activities. Befriending the lonely.

I am working with others in the elders quorum assisting in the temple doing baptisms for the dead.

I am building the kingdom in our ward right now by strengthening relationships (visiting teachers, companions, relief society sisters, friends). As I strengthen relationships, I know that I will be blessed with opportunities to serve.

In this ward I am striving to be a good home teacher to build the kingdom of God. I have not yet been given a calling so I want to look for other ways to serve. After hearing our great sacrament meeting today I think I need to take time for family history.

I think of those I visit teach and their needs out of a true love and desire for the best for them.

I know exactly who I am, I am I a daughter of God. I try to give my testimony to the new members in church and that helps me a lot with my own testimony!

Building the kingdom by being a great example of a great father and friend to my neighbors.

As you can see, missionary work is all encompassing. It includes people who are already baptized. Starting with those who are in our stewardship and reaching out to all around us in Christ's place.
Here are the questions you have about missionary work:

What are the English missionaries names and numbers for our ward?

Who are the English speaking missionaries assigned to our ward? We would like to have them over for dinner and ask them how we can help with people they are teaching.

How can I find people who are looking for the gospel when I'm a stay at home mom and don't leave the house all too often?

How can I find missionary opportunities when pretty much the only the two places I find myself at home taking care of my baby or at BYU in class?

How do I find people to do missionary work with? We hardly ever see our neighbors, how do we break the ice with them?

Sometimes I feel like i don't know any non-members--which actually, as I think about it, is true. I know of people that are non members but it's difficult for me to reach out to strangers. How can I find opportunities to do so?

How can I be a missionary when I'm surrounded by members? Ever since I've moved to utah, I've had a hard time with missionary work. It was so easy to be a missionary when I was surrounded by non-members and now I have a difficult time.

I'm not used to being around so many members. I have a hard time figuring out where I would interact with nonmembers.

What is the consequence of not doing member missionary work?

I know that I want to help my sister come back to the church but I don't know how to share the gospel with her without pushing her away or offending her.

How can I better reach my non-member brothers and their families?

I get scared of rejection. What do I do if I've extended an invitation and then when I follow up I get ignored?

I'm friends with a lot of people who have left the church, and I'm never sure how to share my testimony of something that they've already rejected.

How do we know when a friend is ready to hear about the gospel and ready to accept our invitations?

Gene, our garbage man, comes every Tuesday morning around 6:30 am. He is always in a hurry but I often see him and we have become friendly. I don't know how to 'break the ice' to invite him to hear he gospel. I think he needs it.

How do you do missionary work without seeming like you are trying to persuade someone to believe what you believe?

How can I use social media better for missionary work?

How do I overcome the laziness I often feel towards being a member missionary? It's a desire I want to feel, but I struggle making time for it between school, work, family, and all of the other things I feel I'm supposed to do in the church. I get overwhelmed by family history, going to the temple, being a member missionary, home teaching, fulfilling my calling as a teacher, and everything else we're asked to do and don't end up doing any of it.

What are ways to stay motivated to do missionary work?

Thank you for your participation in class this last week. This next week, the lesson is on gathering the elect. We'll be discussing and practicing the answers to these questions. I can't wait! Oh and for the record, the missionaries' information is on lds.org in the directory when you sign in. Click on the word 'Missionary' on the left. Our missionaries are listed there.
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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Doctrine & Covenants Lesson # 11 “The Field is White Already to Harvest” -- Sara

Oh missionary work... probably one of the most stressful topics for us in Sunday school lessons. Why? Many of us served missions or were converts ourselves. Many of us have seen friends or family members join the church. I could probably say that most (if not all) have experienced the joy that comes with missionary work. It's hard but somehow there is so much happiness.
I will keep my thoughts about missionary work brief today for those of you who have accepted the Christ scripture challenge. (If you are wondering what I am talking about, email me)
This week, I want you to ponder what type of member missionary you have always wanted to be. Write down what it would look like. What kinds of things you would invite people to do, the relationship you would have with the missionaries, how often friends and families would enter the waters of baptism etc.


Then, I want you write down all the things that have kept you from becoming that member missionary and all of your past or current frustrations. Rejection, lack of testimony, unable to make new acquaintances, fear, etc.


We'll be talking about what it looks like to be a member missionary and what we can do to be successful. I have always loved the motivation I feel when I read this quote by Elder Eyring, to talk to someone TODAY about the gospel:
“It’s easy to say, ‘The time isn’t right.’ But there is danger in procrastination. Years ago I worked for a man in California. He hired me; he was kind to me; he seemed to regard me highly. I may have been the only Latter-day Saint he ever knew well. I don’t know all the reasons I found to wait for a better moment to talk with him about the gospel. I just remember my feeling of sorrow when I learned, after he had retired and I lived far away, that he and his wife had been killed in a late-night drive to their home in Carmel, California. He loved his wife. He loved his children. He had loved his parents. He loved his grandchildren, and he will love their children and will want to be with them forever.
“Now, I don’t know how the crowds will be handled in the world to come. But I suppose that I will meet him, that he will look into my eyes, and that I will see in them the question, ‘Hal, you knew. Why didn’t you tell me?’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 42; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 33).I guess the theme of this week's lesson could be "No regrets".


The following list comes from the lesson itself, it lists scriptures and then a direction to ponder. We might go through a few of these as a class, but in case we spend the majority of class doing a Q&A style, I wanted to put these up here as a scripture study exercise for those of you so inclined:
  1. D&C 18:15–16. Invite class members to express their feelings for Church members who shared the gospel with them or to describe their feelings as they shared the gospel.
  2. D&C 31:7; 109:55–57. Invite class members to share experiences when the Lord has opened their hearts or the hearts of others to the gospel.
  3. D&C 31:11; 84:85; 100:5–6. Invite class members to share experiences when the Spirit has guided their efforts or inspired them as they have shared the gospel.
  4. D&C 31:13; 75:9–13; 84:88. Invite class members to share experiences when they have felt the Lord support them and bear them up as they have shared the gospel.
  5. D&C 71:9–10. Point out that the Lord gave this promise at a time when the Church was under attack from a bitter apostate. How can this promise help us today?
  6. D&C 84:80. Invite class members to tell how the Lord has sustained them mentally, physically, and spiritually as they have preached the gospel.
  7. D&C 100:7–8. Invite class members to share experiences when they have felt the Holy Ghost bear record while they have shared the gospel.
    8. I am so excited to have a discussion and counsel on missionary work in our class this week!
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Saturday, March 11, 2017

Alison's Notes from Stake RS Meeting presentation "Learning through the Scriptures"

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.



Example of Eve and Mary

Eve (Moses 5:9–12)

9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
 10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
 11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
 12 And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.

Mary (Luke 1:38; 2:19)

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
 “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”




Deut 8:3 not live by bread alone but by every word; John 6:51

2 Ne 32:3, words of Christ will tell you all things

Mosiah 4:9 “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.”


“Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (D&C 19:23).

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Nephi said: “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children” (2 Ne. 4:15).

“Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds” (3 Ne. 17:3)

“At about the age of twelve years my mind became seriously impressed with regard to the all-important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul which led me to search the scriptures believing as I was taught, that they contained the word of God” (The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. Dean C. Jessee [1984], 4–5; spelling modernized).

Pres. Packer:

Plain and precious insights are everywhere in the Book of Mormon. . . .
I learned that anyone, anywhere, could read in the Book of Mormon and receive inspiration. . . . Some insights came after reading a second, even a third time and seemed to be “likened” to what I faced in everyday life. . . . We once had a major decision to make. When our prayers left us uncertain, I went to see Elder Harold B. Lee. He counseled us to proceed. Sensing that I was still very unsettled, he said, “The problem with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.” Then he quoted this verse from the Book of Mormon, “Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6). He added, “You must learn to walk a few steps ahead into the darkness, and then the light will turn on and go before you.” That was a life-changing experience from one verse in the Book of Mormon. . . . Life moves all too fast. When you feel weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Mormon and read. Do not let too much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter. . . . Do the best you can. Think of this verse: “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order” (Mosiah 4:27).[1]

President Uchtdorf:

First, you must search the word of God. That means reading the scriptures and studying the words of the ancient as well as modern prophets regarding the restored gospel of Jesus Christ—not with an intent to doubt or criticize but with a sincere desire to discover truth. Ponder upon the things you will feel, and prepare your minds to receive the truth.“Even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you … that ye can give place for [the word of God].”
Second, you must consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe, and be grateful for how merciful the Lord has been to His children from the time of Adam to our day by providing prophets, seers, and revelators to lead His Church and help us find the way back to Him.
Third, you must ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unto you. Ask with a sincere heart and with real intent, having faith in Christ.
There is also a fourth step, given to us by the Savior: “If any man will do [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” In other words, when you are trying to verify the truth of gospel principles, you must first live them. Put gospel doctrine and Church teachings to the test in your own life. Do it with real intent and enduring faith in God.
If you will do these things, you have a promise from God—who is bound by His word—that He will manifest the truth to you by the power of the Holy Ghost. He will grant you greater light that will allow you to look through the darkness and witness unimaginably glorious vistas incomprehensible to mortal sight.[2]


President Nelson:

“To those of you who feel you don’t have time, if you will make a sacrifice, you will be well rewarded and very, very grateful for the change of perspective, increased knowledge, and improved depth of your conversion. I know this is true because I have seen the same rewards in my own life.”[3]


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Sunday, March 5, 2017

Doctrine & Covenants Lesson # 10 “This Is My Voice unto All” -- Alison

Doctrine & Covenants Lesson # 10
“This Is My Voice unto All”


Introduction
We have set the foundation for the revelations in the Doctrine Covenants using—the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants! Now is the time to get into specific sections and doctrine. And it is instructive that the Brethren have chosen Section 25, the revelation to Emma, to start our study. When I joined the Church I was surprised by the negative attitude some of the sisters had toward Emma. It is well documented that Emma and Brigham did not get on, especially after Joseph’s death. And maybe when we look at Emma, we just see the last days when she refused to go West, and even remarried. But Emma endured so very much as a result of marrying Joseph: the alienation of her parents, countless moves, the loss of her children, seeing her husband tarred and feathered, torn from her arms. Left to manage alone countless times when Joseph was alive, then losing her husband at a very early age.[1] Such a trial of her faith. And we remember that the Lord looks at our whole life, not just the end. Which makes deathbed confessions pretty meaningless when you think about it. Grace is a blessing we receive “after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). And once we are on the path, we spend our life doing our best to hang on to the guiding, iron rod.

Section 25

The lesson manual advises us to do as Elder Jay Jensen counseled, “When I read a verse, I often insert my name in it.” Try doing that with verses 2, 10,14, and 15, and changing husband to spouse as applicable. See what effect those verses now have on you.

Regarding verse 2, Pres. Hinckley said:

The Lord [said] Emma, “If thou … walk in the paths of virtue.”
I think every woman . . . understands the meaning of that. I feel those words were given to Emma Smith, and consequently to all of us, as a condition to be observed if we are to receive an inheritance in the kingdom of God. Lack of virtue is totally inconsistent with obedience to the commandments of God. There is nothing more beautiful than virtue. There is no strength that is greater than the strength of virtue. There is no other nobility equal to the nobility of virtue. There is no quality so becoming, no attire so attractive.[2]

1. Husbands and wives should support and comfort each other.
Section 25:5 sets out a pattern for marital interactions. Pres. Hinckley again:

That is interesting language. She was his wife, his companion, his strength in his afflictions. She was to comfort with consoling words, given in a spirit of meekness. I see in that the challenge to every woman who is a wife to set the tone of that which is spoken in the home. It was said of old that “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” (Prov. 15:1.) It is interesting to me that in this revelation the Lord spoke of consoling words in the spirit of meekness. There is so much of argument in the homes of the people. It is so destructive. It is so corrosive. It leads only to bitterness, heartbreak, and tears. How well advised we would be, each of us, when there is tension, when there is friction, when there is affliction, to speak with consoling words in the spirit of meekness.

Notice in both these quotes, Pres. Hinckley infers the scriptures to apply to all members of God’s family. Verse 14 continues the admonition that I think expounds on the theme of “cleave to your spouse.” The lesson manual gives us a beautiful quote from Joseph himself that sheds light on just how much he valued Emma:

With what unspeakable delight, and what transports of joy swelled my bosom, when I took by the hand, on that night, my beloved Emma—she that was my wife, even the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart. Many were the reverberations of my mind when I contemplated for a moment the many scenes we had been called to pass through, the fatigues and the toils, the sorrows and sufferings, and the joys and consolations, from time to time, which had strewed our paths. … Oh what a commingling of thought filled my mind for the moment, again she is here, … undaunted, firm, and unwavering—unchangeable, affectionate Emma! (History of the Church, 5:107)
If you are interested, I will append a link to the HC when Joseph wrote this. He had just avoided a writ of habeas corpus against himself and Porter Rockwell, had almost been in exile with the Nauvoo Legion, but had finally been able to come home to be with his family.[3]

2. We should be meek and avoid pride.
Just from this verse (14) we can learn that meekness is the antidote for pride. Some of you might remember that Daniel Radcliffe started off his acting life as David Copperfield. In that immortal book by Charles Dickens, one of the more odious characters is Uriah “Umble” Heep. His kind of humility was not the one we are aiming for, but it is one that is characterized by meekness. In our lesson time we will look at a few scriptures from the Doctrine and Covenants on pride, but what has always stood out to me, since first hearing it, is Pres. Benson’s landmark talk in 1989, four years after he was called to lead the Church, and three years after he rebuked us for not taking the Book of Mormon seriously enough. He led out the April General Conference with this talk.

Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. . . . In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride—it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby.
Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.
Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.” As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philip. 2:21.) . . . Our enmity toward God takes on many labels, such as rebellion, hard-heartedness, stiff-neckedness, unrepentant, puffed up, easily offended, and sign seekers. The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s. . . .

Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them. (See Hel. 6:17; D&C 58:41.)
The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. In the words of C. S. Lewis: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10). . . . When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. The reasoning of men overrides the revelations of God, and the proud let go of the iron rod.[4]

Finally, Pres. Benson gave us the antidote:

The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness (see Alma 7:23). It is the broken heart and contrite spirit. … We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.

3. We should rejoice and be of good cheer.
So if we are sufficiently humble now after feeling perhaps chastised about the way we treat each other, and how we have let pride into our lives, then, because of repentance and the Atonement, we, via Emma, are admonished to lift up our hearts and rejoice (D&C 25:13). What reasons do we have to rejoice and be of good cheer? It is because we have “a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men (2 Nephi 31:19). We know what the Lord has done for us, and how much He loves us and wants our happiness. Our future is glorious, because He is with us.

Additional resources for this lesson

Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice unto All”
  • “Sally Phelps’s Hymnal”: This article discusses the 1835 hymnal that was compiled according to instructions in Doctrine and Covenants 25.



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