Let's Discuss: "The Lord Leads His Church," by Henry B. Eyring

"The Lord Leads His Church"

By President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency
30 September 2017, Priesthood Session

Hymn recommendations:
19  We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
20  God of Power, God of Right
220  Lord, I Would Follow Thee
249  Called to Serve
321  Ye Who are Called to Labor

Favorite quote:

It takes faith and humility to serve in the place to which we are called, to trust that the Lord called us and those who preside over us, and to sustain them with full faith.

Something to put on the board:

...you have the capacity to receive revelation and to act on it fearlessly.

Synopsis:

We can have faith that callings come from the Lord, even though we are all imperfect people.  The Lord, Jesus Christ, leads the Church, and can lead each of us in our respective callings.

Quotes and Discussion:

President Eyring in conference mentions he's especially speaking to younger priesthood holders, but that is not in the transcript.  He begins by outlining four fundamentals.  You may wish to write them on the board:

First, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church in all the earth.  

Second, He leads His Church today by speaking to men called as prophets, and He does it through revelation. 

Who are these men called as prophets?  The prophet, yes, also the First Presidency, and the apostles are all "prophets, seers, and revelators."  I might not ask the following in a classroom setting, unless Moved to share it, but for your study and mine:  Does anyone else fall under the subset of prophet?  What about someone with the gift of prophecy - are they not prophets?  Here also is a quote from Joseph Smith:

“No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy [see Revelation 19:10].”  (History of the Church, 3:389; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith about July 1839 in Commerce, Illinois; reported by Willard Richards).

Just to ponder. ...  Now back to President Eyring:

Third, He gave revelation to His prophets long ago, still does, and will continue to do so. 

God works in patterns.  One way we can know the Church is true is that our leadership follows the patterns of old.

Fourth, He gives confirming revelation to those who serve under the leadership of His prophets.

Who falls under this fourth fundamental?  Pretty much all of us.  Even without a calling, we are in the service of our Lord through our baptismal covenants.  Have you ever felt confirming revelation that the Lord called your leaders?  I have many times felt a confirming witness of the Holy Ghost testifying that callings were made of God.  (If you haven't, here is a procedure I suggest:  When a calling is made, ask in your mind if it is good, right, or of God.  What do you immediately feel?  I have sometimes gotten a feeling of wonder and truth - almost of electricity - moving through my body, confirming callings.  You may have a different gift of confirming revelation.)

From those fundamentals, we recognize that the Lord’s leadership of His Church requires great and steady faith from all who serve Him on earth.

If we didn't have faith in these fundamentals, it might be difficult to follow our imperfect leaders!  But, we can trust our Savior, and thus we can trust the leaders of His Church on earth.  President Eyring next gives some examples of faith that you may not know you have/need:

For instance, it takes faith to believe that the resurrected Lord is watching over the daily details of His kingdom. It takes faith to believe that He calls imperfect people into positions of trust. It takes faith to believe that He knows the people He calls perfectly, both their capacities and their potential, and so makes no mistakes in His calls.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a calling?  Or perhaps underwhelmed by a calling given to someone else??  President Eyring is speaking to you (us!):

That may bring a smile or a shake of the head to some in this audience—both those who think their own call to serve might have been a mistake as well as those who picture some they know who seem poorly suited to their place in the Lord’s kingdom. My counsel to both groups is to delay such judgments until you can better see what the Lord sees. The judgment you need to make, instead, is that you have the capacity to receive revelation and to act on it fearlessly.  [emphasis added]

I like that he says to "delay such judgments."  It reminds me of Pres. Uchtdorf, who said, "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith" (reference).  We can keep our minds open to Purposes greater than what we can see.  Next, some more faith examples that you may not know you have or need:

It takes faith to do so. It takes even greater faith to believe that the Lord has called imperfect human servants to lead you.

Did you ever wonder if you have faith?  Do you follow your leaders?  Then you have faith!

Next we have President Eyring's hope, or purpose of his message:

My purpose tonight is to build your faith that God directs you in your service to Him. And even more importantly, my hope is to build your faith that the Lord is inspiring the imperfect persons He has called as your leaders.

What did he say was his purpose?  (to build our faith that God directs us in our service to him, and build our faith that He directs our leaders)

You may think, at first, that such faith is not important to the success of the Lord’s Church and kingdom. However, you may discover—no matter where you are in the chain of priesthood service, from the Lord’s prophet to a new Aaronic Priesthood holder—that faith is essential.

Why do you think a person may think (at first) that this faith is not important to the success of the Lord's Church and kingdom?  In answer, I think it's easy to idolize people we don't know that closely - people can appear to be great communicators of their own right, or great successes, or great motivators, or spiritual giants.  Maybe in our minds, these are natural leaders of the kingdom, who may not even appear to need to rely on God. ...  But no matter if we have these gifts or not, they all and we all need to rely on God in our service.

Let’s start with what faith means for a teachers or a deacons quorum president. It is important for him to have faith that the Lord called him personally, knowing that teacher’s weaknesses and strengths. He has to have faith that the man who issued the call received revelation by the Spirit of God. His counselors and members of his quorum need the same faith to follow him with fearless confidence.

President Eyring shares the story of a newly called deacons' secretary who acts in faith.  I might skip this for time:

I saw such confidence when a boy sat with his deacons quorum presidency one Sunday morning. He was their newly called secretary. That young presidency counseled together. They talked about several ways they could fulfill the bishop’s request to bring a less-active boy back to church. After prayer and discussion, they appointed the secretary to go to the home of a boy who had never come to a meeting and to invite him.

The secretary didn’t know the boy, but he knew that one of the boy’s parents was less active and the other was not a member and not friendly. The secretary felt anxiety but not fear. He knew that the prophet of God had asked priesthood holders to bring back the lost sheep. And he had heard the prayer of his presidency. He heard them come to agreement on the name of the boy to be rescued and on his own name.

I was watching when the secretary walked up the street toward the less-active boy’s house. He walked slowly as if he were going into great danger. But within a half hour he came back down the road with the boy, smiling happily. I’m not sure he knew it then, but he had gone with faith that he was on the Lord’s errand. That faith has stayed with him and has grown over his years as a missionary, a father, a leader of young men, and a bishop.  [emphasis added]

Ok - what did you get from this example?  I liked that assignments given to us from our leaders are "the Lord's errand;" we can act in "fearless confidence" in these assignments.  I also like that anxiety is different than fear - anxiety is not a lack of faith, per se.

Now, President Eyring's next example concerns a bishop's calling:

Let’s talk about what such faith means for a bishop. A bishop is sometimes called to serve people who know him well. Ward members know something of his human weaknesses and his spiritual strengths, and they know that others in the ward could have been called—others who seem better educated, more seasoned, more pleasant, or even better looking.

There was laughter at the better looking bit - but how easy it is to judge outward appearance!

These members have to know the call to serve as a bishop came from the Lord, by revelation. Without their faith, the bishop, who was called of God, will find it harder to get the revelation he needs to help them. He will not succeed without the faith of the members to sustain him.

How can we sustain, support, encourage, and withhold unrighteous judgement for those we know "too" well?  Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.  I once received when a new calling of leadership was extended that the Lord wanted to "shape" this leader - maybe he didn't start off as what I might expect - but that the crucible of this particular calling would be a great way for him to learn and grow quickly!

Happily, the reverse is also true. Think of the Lord’s servant King Benjamin, who led his people to repentance. The people’s hearts were softened by their faith that he was called of God, despite his human weaknesses, and that his words came from God. You remember what the people said: “Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; … we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). 

For a leader to succeed in the Lord’s work, the people’s trust that he is called of God must override their view of his infirmities and mortal weaknesses. You remember how King Benjamin explained his own leadership role:

“I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye should fear me, or that ye should think that I of myself am more than a mortal man.

“But I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen by this people, and consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand of the Lord that I should be a ruler and a king over this people; and have been kept and preserved by his matchless power, to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto me” (Mosiah 2:10–11).

Since our clergy is all volunteer, we need to remember that they are not so different than us!  Like King Benjamin, they are "like as [our]selves," yet chosen and set apart to be the leaders of our wards/stakes/quorums/etc.

Your leader in the Lord’s Church may seem to you weak and human or may appear to you strong and inspired. The fact is that every leader is a mixture of those traits and more. What helps servants of the Lord who are called to lead us is when we can see them as the Lord did when He called them.

The Lord sees His servants perfectly. He sees their potential and their future. And He knows how their very nature can be changed. He also knows how they can be changed by their experiences with the people they will lead.

Have you ever had the experience where you didn't think someone would be called, but they were, and you received confirming revelation?  Please share your experiences in the comments.  Once, when a new stake president was due, in a spirit of speculation, I thought of an individual, and followed with, "But I don't think he's ready for that," ... well, he ended up being called as the stake president!  Immediately, the Spirit testified to me that the calling would make him ready - that He doesn't always call the biggest spiritual giant possible - but that he would teach and make this individual the leader He wanted and knew He could be.  Then, the presiding 70 in his talk to us, said almost the same thing!  I had two witnesses that he was the man for the job for the time!  The Lord's ways are not our ways!  Thankfully!

You may have had the experience of being made stronger by the people you were called to serve.

Think about one of your callings, past or present.  Can you think of growth you experienced from your service?  Please share if you feel inspired to do so.  I have played the piano all my life.  So I was surprised when I received the calling to be a choir director!  What?!  Totally out of my comfort zone!  Yet, I learned, I stretched, I sought the inspiration of the Lord, and by the time I was released, I was again a new creature in Christ.  If our callings cause our growth, they will help our leaders grow, too.

President Eyring shares some growth he experienced as a bishop in a YSA ward:

To a degree I do not understand, most of those young people in that ward acted as if I was called of God especially for them. They saw my weaknesses but looked past them.

I remember one young man who asked for counsel about his educational choices. He was a freshman at a very good university. A week after I had given the advice, he scheduled an appointment with me.

When he came into the office, he surprised me by asking, “Bishop, could we pray before we talk? And could we kneel? And may I pray?”

His requests surprised me. But his prayer surprised me even more. It went something like this: “Heavenly Father, You know that Bishop Eyring gave me advice last week, and it didn’t work. Please inspire him to know what I am to do now.”

Now you might smile at that, but I didn’t. He already knew what the Lord wanted him to do. But he honored the office of a bishop in the Lord’s Church and perhaps wanted me to have the chance to gain greater confidence to receive revelation in that calling.

It worked. As soon as we stood up and then sat down, the revelation came to me. I told him what I felt the Lord would have him do. He was only 18 years old then, but he was mature in spiritual years.

He already knew he didn’t need to go to a bishop on such a problem. But he had learned to sustain the Lord’s servant even in his mortal weaknesses. He eventually became a stake president. He carried with him the lesson we learned together: if you have faith that the Lord leads His Church through revelation to those imperfect servants He calls, the Lord will open the windows of heaven to them, as He will to you.

From that experience, I carried away the lesson that the faith of the people we serve, sometimes more than our own faith, brings us revelation in the Lord’s service. [emphasis added]

For the sake of those we serve in our callings and assignments, the Lord will bless us!  We do not have to rely on our personal worthiness (although we should strive to be found worthy), or our own level of faith (although we want to be faithful).  When we serve others, the Lord inspires us on their behalf.  Do you feel that you receive revelation for your calling?  Could you benefit from more of the Lord's revelation and guidance in your calling?

There was another lesson for me. If that boy had judged me for my failure to give him good advice the first time, he never would have come back to ask again. And so, by choosing not to judge me, he received the confirmation he desired.

Both the young man and the bishop were blessed in this example.  I love that.

Yet another lesson from that experience has served me well. As far as I know, he never told anyone in the ward that I had not given good counsel at first. Had he done that, it might have reduced the faith of others in the ward to trust the bishop’s inspiration.

I love that this young man did not get offended, or attempt to undermine the bishop.  It is tempting sometimes to share our gripes, or voice our grievances at quirks and weaknesses.  They may even truly be weaknesses.  But that does not mean he is not called of God.  I remember once when my husband was called into a scouting position, we had a bishop who did not seem to support the scouting program in the way my husband felt it needed support. ...  We talked about it together, and ultimately some counsel of my father's came to mind, which is that "this bishop was called at this time for a reason" - maybe the reason wasn't scouting - and that's ok.

I try not to judge servants of the Lord or to speak of their apparent weaknesses. And I try to teach that by example to my children. President James E. Faust shared a credo that I am trying to make my own. I commend it to you: 

“We … need to support and sustain our local leaders, because they … have been ‘called and chosen.’ Every member of this Church may receive counsel from a bishop or a branch president, a stake or a mission president, and the President of the Church and his associates. None of these brethren asked for his calling. None is perfect. Yet they are the servants of the Lord, called by Him through those entitled to inspiration. Those called, sustained, and set apart are entitled to our sustaining support. 

“… Disrespect for ecclesiastical leaders has caused many to suffer spiritual weakening and downfall. We should look past any perceived imperfections, warts, or spots of the men called to preside over us, and uphold the office which they hold” (“Called and Chosen,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 54–55).

Next, President Eyring shares some disloyalty for the prophet Joseph Smith that had crept in:

In the early days of the Lord’s Church, leaders close to the Prophet Joseph Smith began to speak of his faults. Even with all they had seen and knew of his standing with the Lord, their spirit of criticism and jealously spread like a plague. One of the Twelve set for us all the standard of faith and loyalty we must have if we are to serve in the Lord’s kingdom. 

Here is the report: “Several elders called a meeting in the temple for all those who considered Joseph Smith to be a fallen Prophet. They intended to appoint David Whitmer as the new Church leader. … After listening to the arguments against the Prophet, Brigham [Young] arose and testified, ‘Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased; they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell’” (Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 2nd ed., 174; see also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 79).

There is a thread that binds us to the Lord in our service. It runs from wherever we are called to serve in the kingdom, up through those called to preside over us in the priesthood, and to the prophet, who is bound to the Lord. It takes faith and humility to serve in the place to which we are called, to trust that the Lord called us and those who preside over us, and to sustain them with full faith. 

This should be a reminder and a warning to us that apostasy isn't all at once - it can start with seemingly innocuous criticisms.  Also, we can be like Brigham Young:

There will be times, as there were in the days of Kirtland, when we will need the faith and the integrity of a Brigham Young to stand in the place the Lord has called us to, loyal to His prophet and to the leaders He has put in place.

Where do we stand?  Do we have a testimony of the prophets?  Do we have a testimony that Christ leads this Church?  Do we have a testimony that He extends the calls His servants?  What can you do today to get these testimonies?

In closing, President Eyring's testimony and blessing:

I bear you my solemn and yet joyful witness that the Lord Jesus Christ is at the helm. He leads His Church and His servants. I bear witness that Thomas S. Monson is the only man who holds and exercises all the keys of the holy priesthood on earth at this time. And I pray blessings on all the humble servants who serve so willingly and well in the restored Church of Jesus Christ, which He leads personally. I testify that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. They spoke to him. The keys of the priesthood were restored for the blessing of all of Heavenly Father’s children. It is our mission and our trust to serve in our place in the Lord’s cause.

Christmas scripture songs are live

Around holidays, especially Christmas, I've tried to find festive scriptures, or scriptures with a special holiday spirit about them.  This December has been a little different - we put aside our scripture songs to focus on memorizing The Living Christ, by special request of our stake presidency.  In general, though, for Christmas scriptures, I have looked for a Christmas carol (tune) that I can fit the words of a scripture into.

This first one is from Mary's Lullaby.  I used it the first year we started learning the scriptures through song - we did just the verse 37 (of Luke 1) the first year, but the next year, I added verse 38.  I had initially planned to do both verses, but I talked myself into splitting it up, to be more child-friendly.  I consulted the children for ideas, and my daughter drew the lovely picture.  If nothing is impossible, then pigs can fly, right?  :)

Here is Luke 1:37

Here is Luke 1:37-38

For Luke 2:13-14, I used the tune, Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains, because it has the "Glory to God" section built in, so I was also teaching the kids part of a Christmas song they would recognize in the future.  I thought it fit pretty well.

Matthew 2:1-2 - this scripture is about the wise men and the star, so the tune from We Three Kings seemed only natural! 

This last one is the only Christmas song with an original tune.  I often get this one stuck in my head, too, but it is lovely enough to me not to be bothersome.  ;)  I often ask the children for their advice on what pictures will help them remember the words.  The idea of God handing someone a large sign was memorable!  Therefore, the Lord, Himself, shall give you a sign...  Isaiah 7:14:

Merry Christmas!

Let's Discuss: "Value beyond Measure" by Joy D. Jones

"Value beyond Measure"

By Joy D. Jones, Primary General President
September 23, 2017 Women's Session

My hymn recommendations:
57  We're Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord
98  I Need Thee Every Hour
113  Our Savior's Love (she quotes a line from this one)
157 Thy Spirit, Lord, Has Stirred Our Souls
279  Thy Holy Word

Favorite quote:

We may seldom, if ever, receive huge spiritual manifestations in our lives; but we can frequently savor the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost verifying the truth of our spiritual worth.

Something to put on the board:

If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less!

Synopsis:

Our worth to God is independent of our worthiness.  Remember your divine worth - combat negative self-talk by savoring and cultivating the sweet whisperings and moments of the Spirit.

Other preparation for a classroom setting:

The pictures of the women she shared during conference are at the conference link above.  You may want to consider printing them out for visual aids.  You may want to provide pencils/pens and paper for your class for taking a moment to ponder your divine worth (described below).

Quotes and Discussion

I love that Sister Jones begins her talk with examples of women/young women from around the world.  Let's begin there:

While visiting the country of Sierra Leone in West Africa, I participated in a meeting conducted by a stake Primary leader. Mariama led with such love, grace, and confidence that it was easy to assume she had long been a member of the Church. Mariama, however, was a fairly recent convert.

Her younger sister joined the Church and invited Mariama to attend a Church class with her. Mariama was deeply impressed by the message. The lesson was on the law of chastity. She asked to have the missionaries teach her more and soon received a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She was baptized in 2014, and her daughter was baptized last month. Imagine, the two fundamental teachings that led to Mariama’s conversion were the law of chastity and the Prophet Joseph Smith, two points the world often sees as irrelevant, outdated, or inconvenient. ...

I want to interrupt here, because I thought it was interesting that she pointed these doctrines out.  I think Sister Jones may be telling us not to be ashamed of these doctrines - or any doctrines.  How do you defend the law of chastity and Joseph Smith?  Do they need defense?  Do you have a testimony of them?  Do they not matter if you have a testimony of other things, like the Book of Mormon?

But Mariama testified that she was like a moth attracted to the light. She said, “When I found the gospel, I found myself.” She discovered her worth through divine principles. Her value as a daughter of God was revealed to her through the Holy Ghost.

What truths of the Gospel did/do you feel drawn to as a moth to the light?  Comment below.  I love the doctrine of eternal families.  I also love that we can ask questions, study them out, and receive personal revelation.

Now let’s meet the Singh sisters from India. Renu, on the far right, the first of five sisters to join the Church, shared these thoughts: 

“Before I started investigating the Church, I didn’t really feel that I was very special. I was just one of many people, and my society and culture didn’t really teach me that I had any value as an individual. ...

Another interruption ...  Can you think of some wrong messages your culture says about individual worth?  Some of the things I thought of are pressures to be skinny, pretty, fashionable, sexy, "authentic," ...  If you get a lot of feedback from the class, consider asking a followup question like, How can we focus on what matters most?

...When I learned the gospel and learned that I was a daughter of our Heavenly Father, it changed me. Suddenly I felt so special—God had actually created me and had created my soul and my life with value and purpose. 

“Before I had the gospel in my life, I was always trying to prove to others that I was someone special. But when I learned the truth, that I am a daughter of God, I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. I knew that I was special. … Don’t ever think that you are nothing.”

I love that!  You don't have to prove anything to anyone.  You are special, period.

I was recently blessed to meet another young woman who understands this same truth. Her name is Taiana. I met her at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Taiana was a junior in high school when she was diagnosed with cancer. She fought a brave battle for 18 months before passing away a few short weeks ago. Taiana was full of light and love. She was known for her contagious smile and her trademark “double thumbs-up.” When others asked, “Why you, Taiana?” her response was, “Why not me?” Taiana sought to become like her Savior, whom she so dearly loved. During our visits, I learned that Taiana understood her divine worth. Knowing she was a daughter of God gave her peace and courage to face her overwhelming trial in the positive way she did.

I realized after pondering this section that I haven't asked, "Why me?" in a long time.  Not in at least 15 years, maybe 20.  I have come to know that our trials are hand-picked for us, to teach us and to stretch us - to mold us and help us be more like Christ.  What is a faith-filled way you like to respond to trials?  Comment below.  Sometimes, I look for the things to learn - in other words, I might ask myself:  What can I learn from ___? - I like to believe that having this attitude might even shorten the length of the trial - if I learn the lesson the trial can be over, right?  (Of course it always depends on the will of the Lord).  Sometimes, I think about my specific gifts - and see if they can help me overcome.  Sometimes, I ponder the sufferings of Christ, and endure to understand Him better.  Sometimes, I imagine that Christ is there with me, and I take comfort in Him.  There is much we can endure, with Christ by our side.  Our joy in Him is independent of our circumstances.

Mariama, Renu, and Taiana teach us that the Spirit will confirm to each of us individually our divine worth. Truly knowing that you are a daughter of God will affect every aspect of your life and guide you in the service you render each day. ...

Has the Spirit confirmed to you your divine worth?  If you have time, take a sheet of paper (or a journal), and sit still for a moment, contemplating your divine worth.  Write down the impressions you receive.  Remember that the Holy Spirit is always accompanied by the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.).

President Spencer W. Kimball explained in these glorious words: 

“God is your Father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure. … You are unique. One of a kind, made of the eternal intelligence which gives you claim upon eternal life. 

“Let there be no question in your mind about your value as an individual. The whole intent of the gospel plan is to provide an opportunity for each of you to reach your fullest potential, which is eternal progression and the possibility of godhood.”2

I love first that in this quote, President Kimball mentions Heavenly Mother specifically.  If you look for Her, you find Her in the writings of the prophets (and elsewhere).  Second, this quote is the inspiration for the title of this talk.  We are valued beyond any measure ... by our heavenly parents!  We can't get more fundamental value than that.  Have you ever doubted your worth?  I don't want to dredge up those feelings - but to shine this light of truth on them - you are valued beyond any measure by Heavenly Father and Mother.

Next Sister Jones takes some time to tell us the difference between worth and worthiness.  Why do you think this is important?

Let me point out the need to differentiate between two critical words: worth and worthiness. They are not the same. Spiritual worth means to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us, not as the world values us. Our worth was determined before we ever came to this earth. “God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever.”3 

On the other hand, worthiness is achieved through obedience. If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less! We continue to repent and strive to be like Jesus with our worth intact. As President Brigham Young taught: “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth … is worth worlds.”4 No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

Have you internalized that your worth is independent of your worthiness?  (rhetorical)  "The least, the most inferior spirit ... is worth worlds."  That is so profound.  I kept thinking of an apple seed, or a tomato seed.  Even just one apple seed has the potential to grow into a tree that produces many more apples, that may produce more trees of their own, and on and on.  Each soul on earth is like that seed - we have the potential for eternal lives.

Despite this marvelous truth, how many of us struggle, from time to time, with negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves? I do. It’s an easy trap. Satan is the father of all lies, especially when it comes to misrepresentations about our own divine nature and purpose. Thinking small about ourselves does not serve us well. Instead it holds us back. As we’ve often been taught, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”5 We can stop comparing our worst to someone else’s best. “Comparison is the thief of joy.”6

Negative thoughts and feelings about ourselves are a TRAP from Satan!  I love that Sister Jones exposes this truth.  How can we escape this trap?  Comment below with your ideas.  If you haven't already, let's start today in recognizing these negativities for what they are - and unroot and cast those thoughts out from you!  When we wallow in self-pity, or "beat ourselves up" emotionally, we are in a snare.  We must remember our divine nature, our heavenly parents, our Savior's love, ...

Next, Sister Jones gives us a key to confidence.  She suggests confidence as the remedy to the negative self-talk:

In contrast, the Lord assures us that when we have virtuous thoughts, He will bless us with confidence, even the confidence to know who we really are. There’s never been a more crucial time to heed His words. “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly,” He said. “Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and … the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.”

What does it mean to you to "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly?"  What is virtue?  I believe it is power (Christ noticed virtue/power gone from Him when the woman touched His hem) - we might say positive power, the benefit of the doubt, the measuring of a thought to divine truth.

After the key to confidence, Sister Jones gives us a technique to help us turn to righteous self-talk:

The Lord revealed this additional truth to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “He that receiveth of God, let him account it of God; and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive.”8 When we feel the Spirit, as this verse explains, we recognize that what we feel comes from our Heavenly Father. We acknowledge Him and praise Him for blessing us. We then rejoice that we are counted worthy to receive.

When we feel a prompting, an answer to a question, joy, or even a brief feeling of hope or peace, we have been counted worthy to receive.  Sister Jones continues with some examples of what she's talking about:

Imagine that you are reading the scriptures one morning and the Spirit softly whispers to you that what you are reading is true. Can you recognize the Spirit and be happy that you felt His love and were worthy to receive?

Mothers, you might be kneeling next to your four-year-old as he says his bedtime prayer. A feeling flows over you as you listen. You feel warmth and peace. The feeling is brief, but you recognize that you, at that moment, are counted worthy to receive. We may seldom, if ever, receive huge spiritual manifestations in our lives; but we can frequently savor the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost verifying the truth of our spiritual worth. [emphasis added]

We don't need to wait for a huge spiritual manifestation.  We can fill our lives with the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost.  This is in part why studying our scriptures and other Gospel basics (going to church, saying prayers, ...) are so important.  We can learn to recognize and rejoice when we receive even the little, brief feelings of peace or testimony of the Spirit of truth during a speaker's talk.  These are like little miracles in our lives.  They may be personal - often we may even be the only person who receives them, but they are real, and they mean we have been counted worthy to receive.

Next Sister Jones brings in the connection to He who makes this all possible - our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Lord explained the relationship between our worth and His great atoning sacrifice when He said:

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

“For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.”9

Sisters, because of what He did for us, “we are bound to him by loving ties.”10 He said, “My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me.”11

Whether we acknowledge it or not, we ARE connected to Jesus Christ.  He earned that right when He paid our ransoms.  Continuing:

King Benjamin also explained this binding connection with our Savior: “And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.”12 That suffering and the results of that suffering fill our hearts with love and gratitude. ...

Jesus Christ is our Savior.  Take a moment to reflect on what He did for you, personally, and express love and gratitude in your heart to Him.  Share any insights you feel inspired to share.

...Elder Paul E. Koelliker taught, “As we remove the distractions that pull us toward the world and exercise our agency to seek Him, we open our hearts to a celestial force which draws us toward Him.”13 If the love we feel for the Savior and what He did for us is greater than the energy we give to weaknesses, self-doubts, or bad habits, then He will help us overcome the things which cause suffering in our lives. He saves us from ourselves. [emphasis added]

I love this concept of a celestial force which draws us toward Him.  I think President Uchtdorf spoke of it also, in the Saturday morning session of this same conference, an inner guidance system that draws us to our heavenly home, "a heavenly stirring."  I think Sister Jones here is teaching us that we may have to remove the "world" from ourselves in order to align ourselves closer to Him.  Continuing, she says:

Let me reemphasize: if the pull of the world is stronger than the faith and trust we have in the Savior, then the pull of the world will prevail every time. If we choose to focus on our negative thoughts and doubt our worth instead of clinging to the Savior, it becomes more difficult to feel the impressions of the Holy Ghost.

So we have that choice when feelings of negativity attack us.  We can choose to focus on the negativity or focus on the Savior.  Can you think of a time when you chose to focus on the Savior and were able to dispel negative thinking?

Sisters, let’s not be confused about who we are! While it is often easier to be spiritually passive than it is to put forth the spiritual effort to remember and embrace our divine identity, we cannot afford that indulgence in these latter days. [emphasis added]

What effort can we put forth to remind ourselves of our divine identity?  Some ideas might be reciting positive affirmations like "I am a beloved child of God; My value is beyond any measure" or setting a daily reminder on our phone to turn our mind to Christ, or ???  There are as many ideas as individuals.  Comment below with your ideas!

I'm going to conclude my discussion with her concluding words:

May we, as sisters, “be faithful in Christ; … may Christ lift [us] up, and may his sufferings and death, … and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in [our minds] forever.”14 As the Savior lifts us to higher ground, we can see more clearly not only who we are but also that we are closer to Him than we ever imagined. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Let's Discuss: "Abiding in God and Repairing the Breach" by Neill F. Marriott

"Abiding in God and Repairing the Breach"

By Neill F. Marriott, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
23 September 2017, General Women's Session

Recommended hymns:
102  Jesus, Lover of My Soul
128  When Faith Endures
140 Did You Think to Pray?
165  Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide
220  Lord, I Would Follow Thee
295  O Love That Glorifies the Son

Favorite Quote:

This living water will begin to fill us, and brimming with His love, we can tip the pitcher of our soul and share its contents with others who thirst for healing, hope, and belonging.

Something to put on the board before class starts:

Some things matter; some things don’t.
A few things last, but most things won’t. 

Synopsis:
There is a breach between us and Father and also us and the people around us.  Jesus Christ/love is the repairer of breaches - if we abide in Christ/love, we can trust it to heal us and our relationships.

Now let's get into the talk.  I made up the subheadings, they are not in the talk. ...

Our Relationship with God

I like that she starts by acknowledging our need to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father:

We need to continually deepen our knowledge of and obedience to Heavenly Father. Our relationship with Him is eternal. We are His beloved children, and that will not change. How are we going to wholeheartedly accept His invitation to draw near to Him and thus enjoy the blessings He longs to give us in this life and in the world to come?

She seems to spend the next few paragraphs with some fo the revealed information about this relationship - in particular, how much we are LOVED.

The Lord said to ancient Israel, and He says to us, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Speaking as would the Father, He also says to us, “Thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.” Do we trust Him enough to abide in Him and walk with Him? [emphasis added]

Faith is about trust - trusting that God knows best.  Do you have a relationship of trust with Heavenly Father?  This is a lesson we all continually learn, but one I learned memorably many years ago - that God knows (and wants!) my happiness better than I know my happiness, and I can trust Him, even when it goes against the grain.  Before I got engaged to my now husband, I had very strong promptings that he was "the one."  But it went against my judgment.  He smoked, for one.  I finally decided to take the leap of faith, and we have been happily married for almost 12 years (and for those who wonder, he stopped smoking, and investigated and joined the church in another series of miracles I may write about when it applies).  When left to my own judgment, there is more sorrow in the long run.  When we sacrifice our will to follow Father's will, there is more happiness in the long run.  My dad says that sacrifice maximizes joy.  Can you think of a time when you followed the Lord, maybe against your judgment, maybe not knowing how things would turn out, but being blessed for it in the long run?

We are here on this earth to learn and grow, and the most important learning and growing will come from our covenant connection to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. From our faithful relationship with Them come godly knowledge, love, power, and capacity to serve.

It is so easy to forget the most important learning and growing we are here for!  Let's share ideas (in the comments) for how we successfully balance all we must do with keeping our covenant connection strong.  (In a classroom, I would probably skip the above quote for time - I like to be sure I get to what I feel are the most important principles first - you can always come back if there's extra time).

“We are duty-bound to learn all that God has revealed about himself.”

This is a quote Sister Marriott qutoes from Bruce R. McConkie, but it really struck me, because we know that "life eternal" is to "know God and Jesus Christ" - and that includes (according to McConkie) learning all that God has revealed about Himself.  Now continuing with Sister Marriott:

We must understand that God the Father directed His Son, Jesus Christ, to create the earth for our growth, that Heavenly Father gave His Son to pay the demands of justice for our salvation, and that the Father’s priesthood power and the Son’s true Church with the necessary ordinances were restored for our blessings. Can you feel the depth of love running through Their preparations for our joy and growth? We need to know that Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation is that we obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel and gain eternal life and thus become as God is. This is the true and lasting happiness Heavenly Father offers us. There is no other true and lasting happiness.

God has done so much for our benefit.  She listed a bunch of things in the above quote, and I believe it emphasizes both that we CAN trust Him because of all the things He does for us, and we MUST trust Him for true and lasting happiness.

Trials Test Our Trust in God

Our challenges can pull us off this course of happiness. We can lose our trusting connection to God if trials drive us to distraction instead of sending us to our knees.

Can you think of a trial or trials that drive us to distraction?  I have had my feelings hurt (pride wounded?) and not been able to let go for a time.  When I think of distraction, I also think of social media - do you think (as I do) that social media habits are a trial of our trust in God?  I'm not saying don't use social media - I'm saying we must not be consumed by it - driven to distraction by it.

This simple couplet begs us to do some priority sifting: 

Some things matter; some things don’t.
A few things last, but most things won’t. 

Sisters, what matters to you? What is lasting to you? A matter of lasting value to the Father is that we learn of Him, humble ourselves, and grow in obedience to Him through earthly experiences. He wants us to change our selfishness into service, our fears into faith. These lasting matters can test us to our core. [emphasis added]

I love the sentence "He wants us to change our selfishness into service, our fears into faith."  Our trials not only test our trust in God, but they refine us!  Do we have selfishness we can turn into service (with His help)?  Do we have fears we can turn into faith (with His help)?  These may be the core issues we all need to work on.

It is now, with our mortal limitations, that the Father asks us to love when loving is most difficult, to serve when serving is inconvenient, to forgive when forgiving is soul stretching.

Trials (are meant to) teach us to love.  Can you think of a trial (or maybe you're currently experiencing a trial) where love is the answer, but it's difficult?  The good news is, we are not alone:

How? How will we do it? We earnestly reach for Heavenly Father’s help, in the name of His Son, and do things His way instead of pridefully asserting our own will.

Our own pride keeps us from trusting God!  Thinking we can handle things ourselves, or that we will just be mean back to those who are mean ... may be pride.

Next, Sister Marriott compares ourselves to a glass pitcher, dirty with a residue of pride:

I recognized my pride when President Ezra Taft Benson spoke on cleansing the inner vessel. I imagined myself as a pitcher. How was I to get the residue of pride out of my pitcher? Independently forcing ourselves to have humility and trying to make ourselves love others is insincere and hollow, and it simply doesn’t work. Our sins and pride create a breach—or a gap—between us and the font of all love, our Heavenly Father. 

Only the Savior’s Atonement can cleanse us of our sins and close that gap or breach. 

We want to be encircled in the arms of our Heavenly Father’s love and guidance, and so we put His will first and with a broken heart plead that Christ will pour streams of cleansing water into our pitcher. At first it may come drop by drop, but as we seek, ask, and obey, it will come abundantly. This living water will begin to fill us, and brimming with His love, we can tip the pitcher of our soul and share its contents with others who thirst for healing, hope, and belonging. As our inner pitcher becomes clean, our earthly relationships begin to heal.  [emphasis added]

I am a person who believes in doing all she can - but I love how she says "independently forcing ourselves to have humility [or] ... love others ... simply doesn't work."  We are meant to get help from God.  We can only do it with His help.

I also love that we need His help in order to be in a better place to help others.  Do you want to help others have a better relationship with God?  Do you want your family to have a better relationship with God?  First, cleanse your inner vessel - we need to have a better relationship with God before we can help others do the same.

Christ's Atonement Heals our Breaches

Sacrifice of our personal agendas is required to make room for the eternal plans of God. The Savior, who speaks for the Father, pleads with us, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you.”

How do we draw near unto God?  How do YOU draw near unto God?  (Comment below.)  Sister Marriott adds:

Drawing near unto the Father can mean learning of His truth through the scriptures, following prophetic counsel, and striving to do His will more completely.

Can you think of a time when the Holy Ghost inspired you to help heal a relationship?

...Christ has the power to bring us into loving fellowship with the Father and with one another[.] He, by the power of the Holy Ghost, can give us needed insight into relationships.

She next tells the story of a Primary teacher who received insight for a class member. (I might skip this story for time, but I have all the time in a blogpost!)

A Primary teacher told me about a powerful experience with his class of 11-year-old boys. One of them, whom I’ll call Jimmy, was an uncooperative loner in class. One Sunday the teacher was inspired to put aside his lesson and tell why he loved Jimmy. He spoke of his gratitude and his belief in this young man. Then the teacher asked the class members to tell Jimmy something they appreciated about him. As class members, one by one, told Jimmy why he was special to them, the boy lowered his head and tears began to roll down his face. This teacher and class built a bridge to Jimmy’s lonely heart. Simple love, honestly expressed, gives hope and value to others. I call this “repairing the breach or the gap.” [emphasis added]

This idea of honestly expressing simple love reminds me of the idea of random acts of kindness - in this case, it's not random, but I think sometimes I think I have to do something big to show love, when we can truly "spread sunshine" in simple ways, in inspired ways.

Perhaps our life in a loving premortal world set up our yearning for true, lasting love here on earth. We are divinely designed to give love and be loved, and the deepest love comes when we are one with God. 

I agree.  I gave a talk earlier this year on having happiness in family relationships, and one of the impressions I shared was that if the love of God is most joyous to our souls (Lehi's vision of the tree of life), then having love for and from our family members must be a natural and joyful desire.

Isaiah spoke of those who faithfully live the law of the fast and thus become for their own posterity a repairer of the breach. They are the ones who, Isaiah promises, will “build the old waste places.”

I found it interesting that she and the scriptures mention fasting in particular as a method to repair the breach.  Do you have a trial or breach in your life that fasting could help you overcome? (rhetorical)

In a similar way, the Savior repaired the breach, or distance, between us and Heavenly Father. He, through His great atoning sacrifice, opens the way for us to partake of God’s loving power, and then we are enabled to repair the “waste places” in our personal lives. Healing emotional distance between each other will require our acceptance of God’s love, coupled with a sacrifice of our natural selfish and fearful tendencies.

Here she goes back to what she said earlier about how through our trials, God wants to change our selfishness into service, our fears into faith.  Here she adds that we need to to accept God's love for us.  That accepting God's love is HOW we change and sacrifice our less-worthy tendencies - and maybe even the purpose for the trials (to strengthen our love for God and our relationship with Him).

Next, Sister Marriott shares a personal experience about a breached relationship.  I could definitely relate to the experience, and maybe all of us could:

One memorable night a relative and I disagreed about a political issue. She briskly and thoroughly took my comments apart, proving me wrong within earshot of family members. I felt foolish and uninformed—and I probably was. That night as I knelt to pray, I hurried to explain to Heavenly Father how difficult this relative was! I talked on and on. Perhaps I paused in my complaining and the Holy Ghost had a chance to get my attention, because, to my surprise, I next heard myself say, “You probably want me to love her.” Love her? I prayed on, saying something like, “How can I love her? I don’t think I even like her. My heart is hard; my feelings are hurt. I can’t do it.”

Then, surely with help from the Spirit, I had a new thought as I said, “But You love her, Heavenly Father. Would You give me a portion of Your love for her—so I can love her too?” My hard feelings softened, my heart started to change, and I began to see this person differently. I began to sense her real value that Heavenly Father saw. Isaiah writes, “The Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.” 

Over time the gap between us sweetly closed. But even if she had not accepted my changed heart, I had learned that Heavenly Father will help us love even those we may think are unlovable, if we plead for His aid. The Savior’s Atonement is a conduit for the constant flow of charity from our Father in Heaven. We must choose to abide in this love in order to have charity for all.  [emphasis added]

It's only in the past few years that I have learned that when I harden my heart, I can recognize a certain feeling.  Usually it is a lot of "nope" or impatience, or frustration, or even reluctance/bitterness from some nagging thought that I will have to change my perspective, because I can't force someone else to change.  But I have also learned something else - which is that when we are wronged, the Comfort - the Love of God - has the capacity to be greater - maybe because we realize we need His Comfort more than in our every day experiences, so we open ourselves to Him more.

Conclusion

Sister Marriott ties everything together in her last few paragraphs.  Look for our relationship with God and Christ, for divine Love and repairing breaches, and even back from the board quote - learning/growing in ways that matter (through what seem at first to be trials).

When we give our heart to the Father and the Son, we change our world—even if circumstances around us do not change. We draw closer to Heavenly Father and feel His tender acceptance of our efforts to be true disciples of Christ. Our discernment, confidence, and faith increase.

Mormon tells us to pray with all energy of heart for this love and it will be bestowed upon us from its source—Heavenly Father. Only then can we become repairers of the breach in earthly relationships.

Our Father’s infinite love reaches out to us, to bring us back into His glory and joy. He gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to repair the breach that gapes wide between us and Him. Reunion with Father in Heaven is the essence of lasting love and eternal purpose. We must make the connection with Him now to learn what really matters, to love as He loves, and to grow to be like Him. I testify that our faithful relationship with Heavenly Father and the Savior matters eternally to Them and to us. [emphasis added]

Let's discuss: "Turn On Your Light" by Sharon Eubank

"Turn On Your Light"

by Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
September 23, 2017 General Women's Session

I've gone back to the beginning of conference for this analysis.

I felt like her overall message was to link our arms in friendsips, and to recognize and step up to fulfill the prophecies about latter-day women.

Favorite quotes:

We aren’t always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling.

And:

There is an energy that comes from happiness and optimism that doesn’t just bless us—it builds everyone around us.

Consider choosing one of those two quotes to put on the board for a discussion setting.  Consider bringing paper and pens/pencils for the class for point 3 below.

Her talk is split into 7 parts - intro, 5 things from President Kimball's quote, and a conclusion.  Great arrangement for a discussion (but pick the most important things for your setting if you are short on time - never be afraid to lead a discussion out of order to hit the important points first!)

Introduction

Sister Eubank opens her discussion mentioning a special link she has to President Monson.  Since she will talk about links later on, I thought it was interesting that she started with a link - a link to the prophet of God.

You might not know this, but President Monson and I are twins. On the very day I was born—in the very hour—in Northern California, the 36-year-old Thomas S. Monson was sustained as the newest Apostle. I love my special, personal link to the prophet of God, President Monson.

Do you have a special, personal link to President Monson?  If not, how can we develop our own links to him?

I remember one story that President Monson shared the conference after his wife, Frances, died that touched me deeply.  It was a year and a half after the death of my sweet baby son.  It struck me, because I recognized what he was expressing - he was speaking in parable!  He talked about a Brother Brems who had lost his sight and hearing, and told his loved ones he was going to die that week...  He asked for "Tommy Monson" to come, who came and gave him a blessing.  His message to Tommy Monson was, "My Heavenly Father has been so good to me."  I understand that.  Some people may see only his trials, but he sees the blessings.  I share that sentiment, and it is holy to me.  I have paid much closer attention to the stories and poems President Monson shares ever since!  He teaches in parable!  Much like our Lord.  This is my special, personal link with President Monson.

Now back to Sister Eubank.  She quickly brings up her subject - the subject of women:

The prophets are speaking about women. You will hear some of their words in this meeting. For my text I am going back almost 40 years to a remarkable prophecy written by President Spencer W. Kimball. September 1979 was only the second time the women of the global Church had met in their own general meeting. President Kimball had prepared his talk, but when the day of the conference came, he was in the hospital. So instead, he asked his wife, Camilla Eyring Kimball, to read his remarks on his behalf.

Sister Kimball read the prophet’s words, which emphasized the influence of LDS women on the good women of the world prior to the Second Coming of the Savior. Near the end, there was an electrifying charge to the women of the Church that we have been talking about ever since.

I find it interesting that Sister Kimball read the address - somehow appropriate, almost reverential to women in general.  I mean, I'm not happy that President Kimball was sick, but what a good example of partnership.

I also like that Sister Eubank called the following an electrifying charge to the women of the Church that we have been talking about ever since.

“Finally, my dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world. 

“Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places a higher value on integrity than on visibility. …

“… It will be … female exemplars of the Church [who] will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.”

Can you think of some ways that this has been fulfilled already?  (Sister missionaries in abundance)  Can you think of some ways this has yet to be fulfilled?  If you are a woman, what are some ways you can improve your abilities to fulfill this prophecy?  If you are a man, what are some ways you can partner with the women in your lives to fulfill this prophecy?

What does it mean to you to place a higher value on integrity than visibility?  How does this relate to the way women are viewed (or view themselves) in the world?  If no one has answers, you could bring up the value some people put on getting "Likes," or the value of modesty in dress over literal visibility.

Back to Sister Eubank:

I have met so many of these good women as I do my work around the world. Their friendships are precious to me. You know them too among your friends and neighbors. They may or may not be members of the Church right now, but we connect in friendship that is very important. Well, how do we play our part? What should we do? President Kimball refers to five things:

The first is to be righteous.

Being righteous doesn’t mean being perfect or never making mistakes. It means developing an inner connection with God, repenting of our sins and mistakes, and freely helping others. 

Women who have repented change the course of history. I have a friend who was in a car accident when she was young, and from that, she became addicted to pain medication. Later on, her parents divorced. She became pregnant from a brief relationship, and her addictions continued. But one night, she looked at the chaos and mess of her life and thought, “Enough.” She cried out to the Savior Jesus Christ to help her. She said she learned that Jesus Christ was stronger than even her terrible circumstances and that she could rely on His strength as she walked the road of repentance. 

By coming back to the Lord and His ways, she changed the course of her history and her little boy’s history and her new husband’s. She is righteous; she has a wide-open heart for others who have made mistakes and want to change. And just like all of us, she isn’t perfect, but she knows how to repent and to keep trying. [emphasis added]

When I started analyzing this talk, I noticed it was given a tag of "repentance," which I thought odd, because I didn't remember her giving much counsel about repentance.  Then, as I reread the above section, I found it!  My takeaway is that righteousness IS repentance!  Righteousness is knowing how to repent and keep trying.  This is not to say we need to live a shame-faced life, ...but to develop our inner connection with God - to rely on the strength of Jesus Christ as we go.  We are not alone, and we shouldn't pretend to be.

The second is to be articulate.

Being articulate means to clearly express how you feel about something and why. Earlier this year, there was a post on my Facebook news feed that disparaged Christianity. I read it and I was a little annoyed, but I shrugged it off. But an acquaintance who is not a member of our faith responded with a comment of her own. She wrote: “[This is] the exact opposite of what Jesus stood for—he was … radical [in] his time because he … equalized the world. … He [spoke to] prostitute[s], [he ate] with … tax collector[s] … , befriended powerless women and children … , [and] gave us the story of the Good Samaritan. … It follows that … true Christians would be striving to be the MOST loving people in the world.” When I read that, I thought to myself, “Why didn’t I write that?” 

Each of us needs to be better at articulating the reasons for our faith. How do you feel about Jesus Christ? Why do you stay in the Church? Why do you believe the Book of Mormon is scripture? Where do you get your peace? Why does it matter that the prophet has something to say in 2017? How do you know he is a real prophet? Use your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel—on social media, in quiet conversations with your friends, when you’re chatting with your grandchildren. Tell them why you believe, what it feels like, if you ever doubted, how you got through it, and what Jesus Christ means to you. As the Apostle Peter said, “Be not afraid … ; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” [emphasis added]

I love that in 1979, President Kimball was advising us to be more articulate - something clearly useful in the digital/information age!  Take some time to personally answer the questions she lists above.  As we write down our testimonies, it reinforces them and articulates them - it gives us words and truth we can draw on, both in our own lives and in encouraging others.

The third is to be different.

Here Sister Eubank relates a story that was in the news July 2017, about some people caught in a riptide at a beach in Florida.  In her words:

...Late in the afternoon, Roberta Ursrey saw her two young sons screaming for help from 100 yards (90 m) out into the ocean. They had become caught in a strong current and were being carried out to sea. A nearby couple tried to rescue the boys, but they also got caught in the current. So members of the Ursrey family dove in to rescue the struggling swimmers, and quickly nine people were caught in the rip current. 

There were no ropes. There was no lifeguard. The police sent for a rescue boat, but the people had been out in the ocean struggling for 20 minutes, and they were exhausted and their heads were slipping under the water. Among the onlookers on the beach was Jessica Mae Simmons. Her husband had the idea to form a human chain. They shouted at people on the beach to help them, and dozens of people linked arms and marched into the ocean. Jessica wrote, “To see people from different races and genders come into action to help TOTAL strangers [was] absolutely amazing to see!!” An 80-person chain stretched toward the swimmers. Look at this picture of that incredible moment.

Everyone on the beach could think only of traditional solutions, and they were paralyzed. But one couple, in a split second, thought of a different solution. Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts. When we keep our covenants, it may make us different from others in our culture and society, but it gives us access to inspiration so we can think of different solutions, different approaches, different applications. We aren’t always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling.  [emphasis added]

I remember this news story, as many of you probably do as well.  But I love how Sister Eubank applies it here.  "Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts."  Have you innovated or created recently?  Can you think of a time you were inspired with a different approach or solution or application to alleviate struggling?  I am a mom of young children, and have experienced frustration when my mothering tactics seem to fall short.  But as I've sought it, I have also obtained inspiration on helping and blessing my family.  For example, I have a child who gets angry easily.  I received very clear inspiration about limiting said child's electronic usage.  I have another child who did not start talking until he was almost 4, and I received very clear inspiration about using flashcards with him and spending structured one-on-one time with him.  I love for the price of covenant-keeping, we have access to the inspiration we need.  I also love that Sister Eubank points out that these gifts are not just for ourselves and our families - we "can be a lifeline to others who are struggling."

I also think that she chose this story because the solution involved people linking together.  Solutions to many of our problems simply involve people linking arms figuratively.  The linking creates oneness and/or vision.  What couldn't we accomplish?!

The fourth is to be distinct.

Distinct means to be recognizably well defined. Let me go back to the story about Jessica Mae Simmons on the beach. Once that human chain was stretching toward the swimmers, she knew she could help. Jessica Mae said, “I can hold my breath … and go around an Olympic pool with ease! [I knew how to get out of a rip current.] I knew I could get [each swimmer] to the human chain.”7 She and her husband grabbed boogie boards and swam down the chain until they and another rescuer reached the swimmers, and then they ferried them one by one back to the chain, who passed them to the safety of the beach. Jessica had a distinct skill: she knew how to swim against a rip current. 

The restored gospel is recognizably well defined. But we have to be distinct about how we follow it. Just as Jessica practiced swimming, we need to practice living the gospel before the emergency so that, unafraid, we will be strong enough to help when others are being swept away by the current. [emphasis added]

First, I have to say it is interesting that she splits different and distinct into two categories.  But as I read on, I felt I understood why she did this.  Being different in positive ways is a general thing for us as covenant-keeping, LDS women of faith.  Being distinct is recognizing our personal gifts and using them to bless others.  For example, musical talent could be a distinction - a distinct gift to offer.  Or budgeting, or making a bulletin board aesthetically-pleasing.  We are not meant to be cookie-cutter Mormons.  Just like people express humor in different ways, people express the gospel of Jesus Christ different ways.

I like her statement about practicing "living the gospel before the emergency," too.  God knows our gifts and orchestrates our lives so that we can help where we are needed.  What are some ways we practice living the gospel before the emergency?  Why are the "basics" so important?  (If we are praying, scripture-studying, FHE-ing, etc. faithfully, we will have the inspiration in the moment.)

And finally, the fifth is to do one through four in happy ways.

Being happy doesn’t mean to slap a plastic smile on your face no matter what is going on. But it does mean keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others. When we build, when we lift the burden of others, it blesses our lives in ways our trials cannot take away. I have a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley placed where I see it every day. He said: “You don’t … build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen.” ...  [emphasis added]

I almost laughed at the "plastic smile" imagery.  She has a footnote with several scripture references about happiness meaning "keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others."  I looked them all up, because I like that she says happiness is found in doing these things.  I'm including links here, and a short synopsis of each reference:
Alma 41:10  wickedness never was happiness
Alma 34:28  prayer is vain without helping the needy
Doctrine & Covenants 38:27  if ye are not one ye are not mine
Luke 16:19-25  the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (the beggar)
There is a definite lesson or charge in these references for us to help others.  I don't want to live with regrets.

There is an energy that comes from happiness and optimism that doesn’t just bless us—it builds everyone around us. Any small thing you do to light real happiness in others shows that you are already carrying the torch that President Kimball lit. [emphasis added]

Can you think of a time when someone else's happiness and/or optimism built you up?  I am sure we don't realize how far even a smile or a kindly word goes.

Conclusion

I was 15 years old at the time President Kimball’s talk was given. We who are older than 40 have been carrying this charge from President Kimball ever since that day. Now I look out at the 8-year-olds, the 15-year-olds, the 20-year-olds, and the 35-year-olds, and I’m going to pass this torch to you. You are the future leaders in this Church, and it will be up to you to carry this light forward and be the fulfillment of this prophecy. We who are older than 40 link our arms through yours and feel your strength and energy. We need you.

All the ages she lists here were born after President Kimball's address was given.  I love that she is bringing it back to "belong" to the next generation, too, if that makes sense.  I also see that here she brings back the arm-linking imagery from the rescue at the beach.

Listen to this scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 49:26–28. It may have been written under different circumstances, but tonight by the Holy Spirit, I hope you will take it as your personal call to this sacred work. 

“Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. 

“Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.

“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly.” 

I appeal to each of you to put yourself in a place where you can feel the generous love God has for you. You cannot put yourself beyond the reach of that love. When you feel His love, when you love Him, you will repent and keep His commandments. When you keep His commandments, He can use you in His work. His work and glory is the exaltation and eternal life of women and men.

What does she mean to put ourselves in a place where we can feel the generous love God has for us?  How can we do this?  How do YOU do this?  Have you felt this love?  I have felt this love.  I long to feel more of it.  I want to be a part of His work.

The prophets are calling on us, my sisters. Will you be righteous? Will you articulate your faith? Can you bear being distinct and different? Will your happiness in spite of your trials draw others who are good and noble and who need your friendship? Will you turn on your light? I testify the Lord Jesus Christ will go before us and be in our midst. 

I conclude with the words of our well-loved prophet, Thomas S. Monson: “My dear sisters, this is your day, this is your time.”

Let's Discuss: "The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?" by Russell M. Nelson

"The Book of Mormon:  What Would Your Life Be Like without It?"

by President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
September 2017, Saturday afternoon session

In honor of my upcoming stake conference, I wanted to analyze this talk, which was a reading assignment given by my beloved stake president to help us prepare for conference.

I found it interesting that President Nelson and several other speakers expanded or included their experiences from heeding the counsel in our dear prophet's 3-minute talk from the previous conference.  For other talks that reference President Monson, see:
"Seek Ye Out of the Best Books" by Elder Ian S. Ardern of the 70,
"Fear Not to Do Good," by President Henry B. Eyring of the 1st Presidency,
"The Truth of All Things," by Elder David F. Evans of the 70, and
an honorable mention to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - who mentioned it in the live version, but i did not make the written version:  Three Sisters (video around 16:05)
I wonder if although not credited, it was the inspiration for Elder Callister, "God's Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon."

Favorite quotes:

Something powerful happens when a child of God seeks to know more about Him and His Beloved Son.

And:

I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day...

And:

The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

If I were leading this in a class setting, I would also write the following three questions from the talk on the board before class, and let the class know to start thinking about them now, because we will discuss them later:

First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?

Now let's get into his talk.

President Nelson begins by relating the experience of meeting an African tribal king while in Accra, Ghana to give a special lecture at a university.  If there's time, you can read the account, or synopsize the story.

In 1986, I was invited to give a special lecture at a university in Accra, Ghana. There I met a number of dignitaries, including an African tribal king. As we visited prior to the lecture, the king spoke to me only through his linguist, who then translated for me. I responded to the linguist, and the linguist then translated my responses to the king.

After my lecture, the king made his way directly to me, but this time without his linguist. To my surprise, he spoke in perfect English—the Queen’s English, I might add!

That may have been a surprise!  Do you think President Nelson would have acted or spoken differently had he known the king could understand perfectly?  Do we consider who might be listening (maybe including children, neighbors, coworkers, people in line with us) when we speak/act?  (rhetorical)  Who is always listening?  (God, angels, devils, the very elements?)

The king seemed puzzled. “Just who are you?” he asked. 

I replied, “I am an ordained Apostle of Jesus Christ.” 

The king asked, “What can you teach me about Jesus Christ?" 

I responded with a question: “May I ask what you already know about Him?” 

The king’s response revealed he was a serious student of the Bible and one who loved the Lord. 

I then asked if he knew about the ministry of Jesus Christ to the people of ancient America. 

As I expected, he did not. 

I explained that after the Savior’s Crucifixion and Resurrection, He came to the people of ancient America, where He taught His gospel. He organized His Church and asked His disciples to keep a record of His ministry among them. 

“That record,” I continued, “is what we know as the Book of Mormon. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is a companion scripture to the Holy Bible.” 

At this point, the king became very interested. I turned to the mission president accompanying me and asked if he had an extra copy of the Book of Mormon with him. He pulled one from his briefcase.

Do you have extra copies you keep on hand or with you?  Where are some places you like to keep extra copies of the Book of Mormon?  (car, purse, ??)  Comment below.

I opened it to 3 Nephi chapter 11, and together the king and I read the Savior’s sermon to the Nephites. I then presented the copy of the Book of Mormon to him. His response lodged in my mind and heart forever: “You could have given me diamonds or rubies, but nothing is more precious to me than this additional knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Beautiful.  President Nelson will come back to this momentarily.

After experiencing the power of the Savior’s words in 3 Nephi, the king proclaimed, “If I am converted and join the Church, I will bring my whole tribe with me.”

Pause here to honestly reflect - how would you have responded to this statement?  Wonderful?  We'd love to have you?  You can be a righteous influence over many?  I hope I would be prompted by the Spirit to say the right thing.  Now, President Nelson:

“Oh, King,” I said, “it doesn’t work that way. Conversion is an individual matter. The Savior ministered to the Nephites one by one. Each individual receives a witness and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

President Nelson affirms that the Church is not about numbers, it is about conversions.  Each of us has received (or can receive) a witness and testimony.  That is amazing.  Also, it is important.  If you do not feel that you have received this - now is a great time to work for it, to plead for it, to fast and listen intently for it.  Does anyone feel to share in the comments his/her witness?  I know when I'm praying and feasting on the Book of Mormon daily, I have a greater portion of the Spirit.  When I shun negative music, tv shows, books, and video games, I have a greater portion of the Spirit.  When I fill the void with service, uplifting music, faith-promoting literature, etc., I have an even greater portion of the Spirit, and angels are my associates.  Even if you don't believe now, I testify that if you seek to serve those around you, you will be blessed.  This reminded me of President Monson's talk from April 2017.  I'm quoting it differently since it is from a different talk.  He said:

"If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study."  --President Monson, April 2017

Now back to diamonds and rubies:

My brothers and sisters, how precious is the Book of Mormon to you? If you were offered diamonds or rubies or the Book of Mormon, which would you choose? Honestly, which is of greater worth to you?

Any comments?  It is easy for me to say the Book of Mormon is more important to me than diamonds or rubies, because we have sufficient for our needs.  A tribal king might even tire of excess riches.  Something the Spirit has been working to teach me recently is that all we need is Christ.  It really does not matter what our circumstances are with our Savior by our side.  The Book of Mormon brings me closer to Christ.  I want Him by my side more than I want diamonds, rubies, or even other physical comforts.

Remember in the Sunday morning session of the April 2017 general conference, President Thomas S. Monson pleaded with “each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.” Many have responded to our prophet’s plea. ...

...Since President Monson’s challenge six months ago, I have tried to follow his counsel. Among other things, I’ve made lists of what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals. Looking at the Book of Mormon through these lenses has been an insightful and inspiring exercise! I recommend it to each of you. 

I love that APOSTLES took President Monson's brief counsel to heart and demonstrated their faith in Christ by seeking to obey the prophet - determining what it meant for them individually.

President Nelson here relates some of the ways he has prayerfully studied and pondered the Book of Mormon in the last six months.  How do you like to study the Book of Mormon?  What lists might you make?  What has enhanced your study?  Here are some of my favorite ways:

• I once went through the Book of Mormon looking for if/then principles (like if you keep His commandments then he doth immediately bless you and prosper you).  It was mind-opening.
• I enjoy reading topics in the Index - since the English Book of Mormon was only translated once, when words are repeated (I like to use the example of the word "blameless")  you can connect the verses and gain more understanding.
• The word "heart" appears many times in the Book of Mormon and I once made a little heart around each time I found it, and then metaphorically considered what the verse is saying about my heart.
• I have gone through the Book of Mormon (actually all the standard works) with various callings in mind - so I have a Music set of scriptures and a Relief Society set.
• The past year or two, I've kept a notebook nearby, and asked very specific questions of the Book of Mormon, and written down the answers I've received.

There's one more quote I want to back up and catch:

Something powerful happens when a child of God seeks to know more about Him and His Beloved Son.

What do you think he means?   Does a window of heaven open?  Does our heart and/or mind open?  Is it both of these or neither?  Do you want to know more about Him and His Son?  Can we seek these powerful experiences?

Now we are back to the questions I wrote at the beginning that President Nelson discusses at length.  Take a minute or two and think of and/or write down your responses (if you're in a class setting, set a timer or watch the clock):

First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?

Did you make a list?  Share in the comments.  Here is my list:

• I would not know as much about the Light of Christ and angels.
• I would understand Isaiah less.
• I wouldn't have the same relationship I enjoy with my Father in Heaven.
• I wouldn't have the same relationship I enjoy with my Savior.
• I would not be able to discern as well.
• I would be more surprised by secret combinations.
• I would not have as much direction in my parenting or in improving myself (this goes back to asking specific questions with a notebook handy).
• I would understand less of the justice and mercy of God and the role of grace.
• I would be more aggrieved for my beloved departed.
• I would pray less.

In the talk, President Nelson lists some of the responses he has heard throughout the world.  I would have members of the class share, and if one touches on one of the points that President Nelson expands on, I might read that.  For example, if someone in the class mentions victory over death, read this paragraph:

One of the sobering responsibilities a surgeon bears, on occasion, is to inform the family when a loved one passes away. In one hospital where I worked, a special room was built with padded walls where family members could receive such news. There, some people manifested their grief by banging their heads against those padded walls. How I longed to teach those individuals that death, though difficult for surviving loved ones, is a necessary part of our immortal existence. Death allows us to progress to the next world.

If someone in the class mentions that their life was changed by the book of Mormon, consider reading this paragraph:

Immersing ourselves regularly in the truths of the Book of Mormon can be a life-changing experience. One of our missionary granddaughters, Sister Olivia Nelson, promised an investigator that if he would read the Book of Mormon daily, his test scores on his university exams would improve. He did, and they did.

Then, President Nelson shares some of his testimony.  His footnotes show where in the Book of Mormon we can find the truths he speaks of.  If there is still class time, or you are doing this for your personal study, you may want to read some of his testimony and read the accompanying scriptures.  Here are some examples:

My dear brothers and sisters, I testify that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. It contains the answers to life’s most compelling questions. It teaches the doctrine of Christ. ...

See, for example, 2 Nephi 31:2-21

...It expands and clarifies many of the “plain and precious” truths that were lost through centuries of time and numerous translations of the Bible. 

See 1 Nephi 13:29-33

The Book of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere. It teaches what it really means to be born again. From the Book of Mormon we learn about the gathering of scattered Israel. We know why we are here on earth. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon. Period. 

The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary.

See 2 Nephi 26-33

The Book of Mormon teaches true doctrine to dispel false religious traditions—such as the erroneous practice of performing infant baptisms.

See Moroni 8:11-15

The Book of Mormon gives purpose to life by urging us to ponder the potential of eternal life and “never-ending happiness.”

See Mosiah 2:41
See also Alma 28:12

The Book of Mormon shatters the false beliefs that happiness can be found in wickedness and that individual goodness is all that is required to return to the presence of God.

See Alma 41:10-11

Next, President Nelson gives us a beautiful, wonderful promise:

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.

Wow!  Let us be faithful and immerse ourselves in the Book of Mormon!  I would love immunization against the evils of our day!  I would love making better decisions!  I would love this for me, my family, my children, my ward, my friends, etc.!

Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” I want to exclaim, “That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in “the inmost part” of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, “I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people” to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.

First, I kind of like that he says "including [him]self" - he is not trying to correct our words/testimony, just provide emphasis. ...  It reminds me of President Benson who ever pleaded with us to read the Book of Mormon -- and not just read it, but apply its teachings.

Do we feel the truth of the Book of Mormon so deeply we never want to live even one day without it?  How can we develop this relationship with a book?  (Some answers might be to put it to the test, or just start doing something every day, or one of my favorite Book of Mormon quotes from the Prophet Joseph Smith - "he who reads it oftenest likes it best")

I testify that Joseph Smith was and is the prophet of this last dispensation. It was he who, through the gift and power of God, translated this holy book. This is the book that will help to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

Wow - here we have President Nelson again referring to preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.  If you read my last two analyses (here and here) of talks by President Nelson - you may notice a pattern.  In those last two talks, he said that righteous sisters and priesthood holders will work (together) to prepare the world for the Second Coming.  Here he says the Book of Mormon will help, too.

I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal and living Son of our living God. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our great Exemplar, and our Advocate with the Father. He was the promised Messiah, the mortal Messiah, and will be the millennial Messiah. I testify with my whole soul that in a most miraculous and singular way, the Book of Mormon teaches us of Jesus Christ and His gospel. 

I know that President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God on the earth today. I love him and sustain him with all of my heart. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ

In my conference issue of the Ensign, I noticed that President Nelson included the "lists" that he made while studying the Book of Mormon these past 6 months.  This was not included in the live talk.  Since I made a list myself of things I would not know/be/have, it was fun for me to see that he included some of the thoughts I mentioned - such as the Light of Christ, angels, and secret combinations.  I also enjoyed pondering that in this other testament of Jesus Christ, the majority of the writers of the Book of Mormon were eyewitnesses of the Lord.