Lesson Summary - Chapter 11 - "The Life of Christ"

Gospel Principles - Chapter 11 - "The Life of Christ"

There are times when we have lessons, and as I think about what I will write about, I feel really inadequate.  I feel that I won't be able to convey the beautiful message in a way that will be beneficial and really do the topic justice.  This would be one of those times.  Our lesson today was on the life of Christ.  I actually had the privilege to hear this lesson twice because last week I was in a different ward, and they were a lesson ahead of my own ward.  Lucky me.  :)  It's a really great lesson, and I invite you to read it on your own--especially the part about the Atonement.  Ponder the words and concentrate on how it makes you feel.

Sometimes reading about it isn't enough for me.  One of the great advantages to living in the technologically-advanced world we live in today is that we have access to uplifting videos right at our fingertips.  I found this video on MormonMessages.org today that has depictions of the pain and sufferings Christ went through for us and also the joy of his resurrection.




I'd like to add my testimony to those already stated in this video.  I know that my Savior lives.  I know that he suffered all, and that if I turn to him my suffering can be taken away.  He did that for ME!  And he did that for you.  Turn to him.  Take your pains to him.  When my dear, sweet daughter was sick as a newborn and in so much pain from hunger and surgery, I prayed for him to take away her pain, and he did!  I have a firm testimony of the power of the Atonement.  I KNOW that my Savior loves me because he made the ultimate sacrifice.  I learned in this lesson that because he had Heavenly Father as his father, he could not die unless he chose to do so. And he did.  Also, because Mary was his mother, he had to suffer the same pains we do as mortals.  What he did wasn't easy, but he did it because he cares for us so much.  I am so grateful for a loving Savior who was willing to die, and a loving Heavenly Father who was willing to sacrifice his Only Begotten so that the rest of his children could live.

"Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ" - Elder Robert D. Hales

"Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ" - Elder Robert D. Hales

Sometimes after I read these talks, I just want to write on here, "Go read it.  The end," because it's THAT good.  This is one of those talks.  It's so very powerful and a call to action.  Read it.  Please.

But then what would be the point of having this blog if I'm just going to tell you to go read something else? :)

I recently watched a movie that was set in a world where no one could lie about anything.  Eventually, one guy was able to tell something that wasn't--the first lie.  It made for a pretty funny movie with lots of crazy scenarios, but in one scene, the makers of that film really made quite a statement.  When his mother died, he told her that she would go to heaven so that she wouldn't be so scared about dying.  After that everyone came to him asking about this after-life, and he began to explain about God.

Did you catch that?  The man who was lying was explaining to the people about God.

This really got to me, and I thought about it a lot afterwards.  In Elder Hales' talk, he says, "As prophesied, we live in a time when the darkness of secularism is deepening around us.  Belief in God is widely questioned and even attacked in the name of political, social, and even religious causes.  Atheism, or the doctrine that there is no God, is fast spreading across the world."  It's spreading so fast that I can't even watch a movie without it being thrown in my face.

However, I'm in the mindset that no one is truly an Atheist as they claim to be.  I heard a quote recently that said, "They may go in the foxhole an Atheist, but they don't come out one."  My brother-in-law just recently came back from Afghanistan, and he said everybody was praying over there.  He also said that he saw many instances when he knew God was watching out for him and the others there.

How do I know there is a God?  Even if I hadn't felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to me that he is real, I don't think I could look at this beautiful Earth and believe that it just appeared here by chance.  The Earth we live on is so amazing.  Our own bodies are so amazing.  Scientists have tried to create artificial intelligence but have yet to succeed in making anything as complex as our brains.  How could something so complex just have happened?  No, our magnificent bodies have been created by a Supreme Being--Our Heavenly Father.

Another point that Elder Hales mentions that I felt was important was that we are created after his image.  That means that Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bones.  Elder Hales says, "Some people may be surprised that we look like God.  One prominent religious scholar has even taught that imagining God in the form of man is creating a graven image and is idolatrous and blasphemous. But God himself said, 'Let us make  man in our image, after our likeness.'"

At the end of his talk, he gives us a call to action:

If you cannot remember believing in God or if you have ceased to believe or if you believe but without real conviction, I invite you to seek a testimony of God now. Do not be afraid of ridicule. The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.

Even more, with your own testimony of God, you will be able to bless your family, your posterity, your friends, your own life—all those you love. Your personal knowledge of God is not only the greatest gift you will ever give, but it will bring you the greatest joy you will ever have.

If you feel as though you've lost your testimony or if you're not even sure you have one, take his challenge!  Do not be afraid.  Ask with sincere intent, and you will know.

Please know that our Father in Heaven loves you.  He cares about you so much.  For proof, in Moses 7:28 it says, "And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept."  He wants you to be happy.  When you're sad, he is sad.  He weeps with you.

Come to him.  Speak with him.  Discover that eternal love he has for you.  You're never too far gone to speak with him.  Whatever your state in life, you can always turn to him.  He will listen, and he will answer.

Lesson Summary - Chapter 3 - Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior

Gospel Principles - Chapter 3 - Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior
"Jesus Christ is Central to Heavenly Father's Plan" - Feb 2010 Ensign

Since this is my blog, and I can technically do what I want, I'm going to do something different today.

First off, above are a couple of great links you should check out.  The first is our actual lesson from today, and the second is an article that our teacher referenced from this month's Ensign.  You can read those if you like.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way... As I was sitting in Relief Society today, my mind drifted to what I would actually write about in this here blog.  Yeah, my mind wanders a lot.  I'm working on that.  While it was wandering, I thought about the topic of today's lesson--Jesus Christ.  Just three pages (four if you count his picture) are in this lesson.  Three.  That doesn't seem like enough to encompass everything that is Jesus Christ.  And now that I think about it, I suppose we all have a slightly different perspective on who Jesus Christ is because of our own experiences.  His atonement affects everyone, but in different ways.   That's why I love hearing others' testimonies because its so neat to hear a fresh perspective on what I thought I already knew.  So with that in mind, I am going to share my own testimony of Jesus Christ.  Maybe there will be some things that you already knew, but maybe... just maybe... there will be something you hadn't thought of before that will strengthen your own testimony of Jesus Christ and his beautiful atonement.

I was raised in the church.  From an early age, I was taught of Jesus Christ.  I knew a lot about him.  Stories and miracles and such.  I always knew the right answers, and I always did as I was told. I was even told by my friends as I grew older that I was the little voice in their head that told them to do good things.  Funny, huh?  I thought I had a pretty strong testimony of the Savior.

Then, I went to college.  This was my first experience away from home and living with people who did not by any stretch of the imagination grow up learning the same standards that I did.  I was thrown head first into "the world," as we Mormons like to call it.  During that first year away at college, I became friends with a boy named Blake.  He was a great friend to me, although you may not think so after this next statement.  Blake made me question my religion.  He would ask me questions about it out of nowhere.  I remember one time in particular when I was talking about how I was getting the chance to see Gordon B. Hinckley speak, he said, "Do you really believe he's a prophet?"  Whoa... what?  I don't think anyone had asked me that before.  I didn't really know what to say, but I said "Yes," because that's what I was supposed to say, right?

Now, I don't want you to think that Blake was a bad person because he wasn't. He respected me for my beliefs.  He told me I was a good person.  I am extremely grateful to him for what he did.  Really.

So after many questions from him and from my own brain, I was left in a state of confusion.  What did I believe?  I remember feeling this way on a long drive back to college from home.  It was a Sunday.  I had been listening to music, but I was tired of it.  I turned it off and thought to myself, "I should be listening to church music today."  I started singing a song called "I Heard Him Come."  As I sang it, I realized that all that stuff I "thought" I knew about Jesus Christ was really true.  He really lived.  This is the first time I remember actually feeling and knowing that Jesus Christ loved me and sacrificed himself for ME!

Since then, I have had many experiences that have helped me understand the atonement and the immense love the Savior has for me.  I know that people are probably tired of hearing me talk about it, but my most recent experience with my daughter being in the hospital was probably the biggest testimony builder I've ever had of Jesus Christ.  It was then that I learned as I watched my daughter suffer from hunger knowing that it was the only way her body could heal how hard it must have been for Heavenly Father to watch his Son suffer knowing that it was the only way we could heal.  It was then that I prayed so very hard that the atonement would take away the pains and sufferings of my little girl and watched it happen.  I am so, SO very grateful for that beautiful sacrifice that he made so that not only I, but my loved ones might live.  And not just live... but live in happiness.  Live without pain.

Today I watched the movie The Testaments.  As I listened and watched the terrible way they treated him, it was all I could do not to cry.  It is hard to believe that someone would love me that much--so much that he would not just die, but suffer.  But the amazing thing is that it actually happened.  He is real.  He is alive.  He has suffered all so that we don't have to.

I know my Savior lives.  I feel it in my heart.  I feel it all over.  He saved my little girl.  I know that is the only reason she is alive today.  I know it.  He is my salvation.  And he can be yours.  I hope that if you don't know already that you will pray to learn for yourself that Jesus Christ is your Savior.  I am so grateful I did.

Chapter 1 - Summary

Chapter 1 - Our Heavenly Father

Since it's a new year, we're starting a new set of lessons in Relief Society. We're taking a break from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church and learning from the Gospel Principles manual, instead. This manual is generally used for the Gospel Principles class which is taught to investigators and new members during the Sunday School hour of church. The book has recently been updated and revised, which hasn't happened for over 30 years! To read more about the updates and why we're studying them in Relief Society/Priesthood, go here. Russell M. Nelson does a wonderful job of explaining it.

As usual, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, so I missed part of the lesson. What I did hear was wonderful, though. This manual teaches very simple truths. We have a Heavenly Father. I have always known that, but it's good to be reminded of his love for me.

The part that I loved the most was at the end. These lessons are really short (so we have no excuse to NOT read them haha), so we had some extra time. Our teacher bore her testimony about how she loves Heavenly Father, and then turned the time over to the sisters to share their testimonies of Heavenly Father.

The first testimony was my own. I know that God is a God of miracles. Early last year my daughter was born. She started her life with double pneumonia from miconium aspiration. The x-rays of her lungs were really bad. So bad, in fact, that she could've died. My husband and his father were able to give her a priesthood blessing. The very next day, she was out of the NICU and in a recovering unit. During the doctor's rounds, I heard one of the doctors say, "Oh, yes, I remember this baby. She is the baby that got miraculously better." So, yes, I believe in miracles.

Not long after that experience, she was in the hospital again for a condition called NEC. It was scary stuff. As part of the treatment, she couldn't eat for 10 days. I remember one night after a long day of watching my baby suffer and not being able to help her getting on my knees and asking God why she had to suffer so much. I knew that ultimately her suffering now would help her later, but it was still really hard to watch. As I was praying, I realized that our Heavenly Father had a similar experience. He watched his own Son suffer because he knew that ultimately it would make all of His children's lives better. It made me realize how much my Heavenly Father must love me to allow his own Son to suffer so that we might live.

After my testimony, another sister stood and talked about her trials with having a child with Down Syndrome. She said that she knew God answered prayers even though they might not always be in the way we wanted it to happen. When she was pregnant with her first child, she prayed for two things: that her daughter would be healthy and intelligent. After her daughter was born with Down Syndrome she said that most people would say that her prayers were not answered. She said that she remembered reading in John 9 about Jesus and his disciples coming upon a man who was blind, and his disciples asked him who had sinned that this man was born blind. Jesus answered and told them that no one had sinned but that he was born blind so that the works of God may be made manifest in him. He then healed the man. She said that she had read that scripture so many times and thought nothing of it. This time when she read it, she thought of her dear daughter. She shared some experiences of when the greatness of God had been made manifest through her. Her daughter is my niece, and I completely agree. She then testified that she knows that Heavenly Father loves and knows each of us individually. It was such a strong witness. I loved it.

If you'd like to read the lesson, I've put a link at the very top of this post. It's very simple, but it speaks such great truths.

New Year's Resolutions

I don't like New Year's resolutions. I really don't. I think that if you're going to start something new, you should just do it! Why wait until the New Year, right?

And, yet, every year, I set some New Year's resolutions that I know I'm not going to keep. This year, however, I resolved to NOT resolve anything. Ha! But that didn't work, either, because instead I thought about things I'd like to change about myself.

I finally came up with one that I'm going to try my hardest to stick to. I am going to try to say only positive things about my family. And not just my husband and kids, but all of my extended family. It's easy to say negative things about anybody, and I tend to do that--especially when I'm with other women. For some reason, husband bashing happens a lot when married women get together. Or kid bashing, for that matter. I am very guilty of it, and I'm very aware of it when I do it.

SO my resolve is to say only positive things, and for every negative thing I say, I must say two positive things to make up for it.

After I told my husband that, he said the thing about saying two positives for every negative was in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I guess I'm just as smart as Mr. Covey. :)

I figure that if I start with my family, then I'll eventually branch out to people outside my family, as well, and develop a more Christ-like attitude towards all people. Because, I mean, that's my main goal, after all--to be more like Christ.

What resolutions are you going to make this year? I'd love to hear them! We could all work together to make sure we actually keep them this year.

P.S. Due to stomach virus, there won't be a lesson summary this week. Sorry, guys. :(

Lesson Summary - "The Love of God" - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The Love of God" - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

This is an absolutely beautiful talk, and I encourage you GREATLY to read it for yourself. He does a much better job of talking about it than I do. I promise!

He asks the question "Are there attributes above all others that should define us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ?" Ironically enough, he answers this question with other questions.

How do we become true disciples of Christ?

In our lesson today, several sisters said that keeping the commandments and loving and serving others was a great way to become true disciples. Christ told us in the New Testament that the greatest commandment is "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mark 12:30-31). If we follow the first commandment, then the second one should be a little easier.

Why should we love God?

Obviously, God has given us everything. He deserves our love. And even though he's commanded it, he doesn't need it. It is US that need to love him. I liked what someone said, "What we love determines what we seek." If we love God then we will seek to serve him and keep his commandments. If we love worldly things like money, then we will seek that which doesn't lead to happiness at all. Since we are God's children we have a great capacity to love as he does.

Why does He love us?

Good question, right? Sometimes I feel like such a huge screw-up, but for some reason God still loves me. I guess it's the same reason I still love my kids even when they disobey and drive me crazy. They're my kids, and I want them to succeed at life. I want what's best for them. Now, take that times a gazillion, and that's Heavenly Father's love for us. Our teacher said that this was her favorite paragraph:

"He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked."

I liked this one: "Regardless of our current state, there is hope for us."

How can we increase our love of God?

One sister suggested engaging ourselves more when we do temple work. Another said we should also do that in our callings. I liked that one of the sisters said that doing service is HUGE! It's a great way to feel closer to Heavenly Father. There are opportunities for service all around. Today, actually, I had my baby with me. I conducted the meeting and while I was walking around trying to get announcements and such, one of the ladies offered to hold her for me. Later while I was trying to take notes, another wonderful lady just came and took her from me and kept her for the rest of the lesson. THAT was a great service to me! And what great examples they're setting for the rest of us in watching out for our fellow (wo)man). (Thanks, ladies! You're the best!)

How can we hear God's voice?

We've got to make the effort! Sometimes life gets so busy, we can't hear his voice. Our teacher explained how she is working and going to school and has maybe an hour home a day. It gets difficult for her to find time to do spiritual things sometimes! I know that most people can relate to that feeling. But I know that in my own life, when I take time to do spiritual things, my life runs so much smoother, and I am more able to recognize the Holy Ghost when he speaks to me.

Why is love the greatest commandment?

If we love God, we will WANT to follow his other commandments. I absolutely loved one sister's comment about how when we learn to love, it changes us. Other commandments we are asked to do, like paying tithing, may not change us. But learning to love like God loves will change our lives. Another sister pointed out that it's hard! It's hard to love some people some times. It's easier to just not like them! It requires more of us to love and accept people. Our teacher also told us that it's important to love ourselves. It can be difficult to love others if we don't love ourselves.

So going back to his original question of what's the most important attribute of all?

The answer is simple... Love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Just love!

Stake Conference - Adult Session

Stake Conference was this weekend, and I wanted to do a special post especially for the Adult Session Saturday night because I know that a lot of sisters are unable to go because of distance, children, and whatnot. We are blessed to have family that live in town so we have a place to stay and someone to watch our kids for us. So I thought that I should give those ladies who were unable to attend the opportunity to read a little bit of what happened. :)

I think this is the first time I have EVER taken notes at a stake conference. This blog is definitely good for me! I think to keep this concise, I will do a bulleted list of some things I heard or thought about.

• It is such a blessing to know that the prophet is not the only one who can pray and receive answers. WE are able to get down on our knees, talk to Heavenly Father, and receive revelations for our own lives. In fact, we're required to. How else are we going to know the things we are taught are true?
• How can we exercise charity in our lives? First, we need to start with our thoughts and feelings. Avoid being judgmental. Be forgiving and patient. Then, we need to watch our words. There is NO NEED to verbalize every thought we have. This is often most difficult in our own homes where we're off our social guard. Finally, we need to watch our actions. To find happiness in our own lives, we must lose ourselves in the service of others.
• When promptings come, ACT!! It doesn't matter if it's the Spirit or your own thoughts. This really hit home for me because sometimes I don't do things because I think it's ME and not the Spirit. Just do it!
• I really liked this quote: "Somehow forgiveness with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way." - Gordon B. Hinckley "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Be More Forgiving"
• Our visiting authority asked us to reread the New Testament and focus on the simple things Jesus Christ said.
• There was a lot of emphasis on being united. We cannot do the Lord's work if we are going against one another. We must be a united people! I don't know how many times I heard the phrase "Be United." It must be pretty important.
• One of the visiting authorities talked about the story of the Prodigal son. It is one of my favorites. I love how when the son was a long way off, his father ran to him. Our Heavenly Father is the same way. It doesn't matter how far off the path we are, if we turn to him, he welcomes us back with open arms. He loves his children so much.

This wasn't everything, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances (ie: wiggly baby). :)

What Matters Most

This video is a beautiful reminder about what should matter most in our lives. Don't let the small things get in the way of those you love.

Enjoy!

First Post! Yay!

WELCOME!!!

You're probably not as excited as I am about this, but thanks for reading this anyway. My hope in starting the blog is to get other women, especially those who live in my area, excited about what we do in Relief Society.

In my own ward, I am the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. I help plan the RS meetings formally known as "enrichment."

Honestly, before I was called to be a counselor, I had never spent much time in the Relief Society. I spent most of my time during that third hour of church in other callings far, far away from Relief Society. I was okay with that, too, because from what I had seen of Relief Society, it was for old women. I had no place there. It was boring--plain and simple. We had visited Relief Society a few times while I was in the Young Women's program, but all I got from it was that their announcements included who had died and who was sick--not quite as exciting as what dances and activities were coming up.

When I was asked by my Bishop to accept this calling in Relief Society, I wasn't excited about it at all, but I accepted because I never turn down a calling. I felt very inadequate in my abilities. I didn't know the first thing about Relief Society. About that time I heard this beautiful song that said, "He is calling you even in your weakness. He is calling you to come as you are." That was the ONLY thing that helped me feel better about what I was about to do. We are called no matter what our weaknesses are.

Over the last year, my dislike of Relief Society has turned into an intense love. As I have striven to plan activities that include my fellow sisters, I have seen what wonderful talents and attributes that they have. As a young mother with very rambunctious children, the third hour of church seems to be the only one that I really get to pay attention in. Whenever I am having a bad Sunday morning, I can always count on my lovely sisters in Relief Society to uplift me and bring me back to the spiritual place I want to be. It's a chance for all of the women to be themselves and share experiences. It is truly a blessing to be part of this wonderful organization.

I hope, sincerely hope, that those of you who read this will one day realize the love that you can enjoy by being a part of Relief Society. I especially want those Young Women who will soon be joining our ranks to know that it's not just a place for old women like I once thought. (I mean, please, I'm not old yet!) True, we all have a little crazy in us, but that's what makes it fun. :)

Keep checking in periodically for lesson summaries, spiritual thoughts, and a few announcements for activities in our area. Thanks for reading!