4th Sunday - worth waiting for

Because of my new calling in Primary I wasn't in RS on Sunday but still wanted to be able to share a snippet with you one last time. I heard several ladies talking about a video that Sis. Johnson shared with her lesson. Sister Johnson told me how to find it and after watching it I can see why there was so much chatter about it. 

Click play to see this great video!

The message is clear but it can also be applied to more than just chastity and marriage. Think about the things in your life that are worth waiting for...the things we are striving through each day to get that "prize" or present at the end....
thanks Sis. Johnson! 

Chapter #10 - lesson snippets

A big thank you to everyone who helped out in RS today. We had 3 substitutes including Sis. Ovard who taught our lesson today from Chapter 10 - Our Search for Truth. Here's a few sections I'd like to share from her lesson:

Near the beginning of her lesson she asked,
" How can we walk in truth if we do not know it?"

I thought that was a very powerful way to start the lesson. Such a truth on a lesson about truth. She shared a quote from the lesson from Pres. Smith about his fond memories of sitting at his Father's feet and learning about the scriptures and the gospel.  

“All my days I have studied the scriptures and have sought the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord in coming to an understanding of their true meaning. The Lord has been good to me, and I rejoice in the knowledge he has given me and in the privilege that has been and is mine to teach his saving principles.”⁶
 
Which made me think - What sort of examples have I set? What sort of routines do I have in your home? Where can I do better? 

Pres. Smith also said that everyone should learn something new everyday. That we all have inquiring minds and are seeking things in many fields. He said to search the scriptures. How many of us know this as Members but fail to prepare?

Scenario - If you were asked today byt the prophet to pack up and leave for Missouri would you? (raise your hands)Counter that with, "you have been asked/told by the prophet to read your scriptures daily. Now raise your hands if you've followed that council? "

We are told by Pres. Smith to Read, study, seek and gain. We can always find time for the things you want to do.....The good thing is we have today to start anew. Like Sis. Ovard quoted Rifiki from Lion King, "It's in the past". If you haven't done all that you've wanted to do, you have the chance to change and do better.

Lesson Snippet from manual #9

Lesson 9, Witnesses of the Book of Mormon - Sister Irmgard Dixon. Said President Smith of the Book of Mormon, "I have read it many, many times. I have not read it enough. It sill contains truths that I still may see and find, for I have not mastered it, but I know it is true".

Sister Dixon took us to the title page of the Book of Mormon to remind us of the purpose this scripture, "to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers, that they may know the covenants of the Lord...And also to the convincing of the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ."

 In other words, sister Dixon said, "to remember and to come unto Christ." It is important to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon as the 3 witnesses did. These three men, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris never did recant their testimony of this holy book of scripture, even when they became disaffected from the church.

Some questions sister Dixon gave us to ponder: Which of the prophets of the Book of Mormon would you like to meet, and why? How did you receive your witness of the Book of Mormon? And the most important, What can you do to share this witness with others?

Thank you sister Dixon for another wonderful lesson!

Lesson 7 JFS manual

Sis Dixon taught lesson 7 in the manual today. 

Something interesting she shared was this found at the end of the lesson and is a help for the Teacher: 

"One way to encourage diligent learning is to listen carefully when someone asks a question or makes a comment. Listening is an expression of love. It often requires sacrifice. When we truly listen to others, we often give up what we want to say so they can express themselves."

This quote tells us that it's not all the responsibility of the teacher but that we has the ones in the class we need to be prepared and ready for the lessons and share our thoughts and comments. 

The lesson focused on Joseph and Hyrum Smith. It said,

" We raise our voices in thanksgiving for the lives and ministries of the Prophet Joseph Smith, of Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, and of the prophets and apostles and righteous men and women who have built on the foundation they laid." 

She asked us how we can and do show love for the prophet today?

Teachings for our times - lesson snippet

Sis. Kendall taught today and the conference talk her lesson was created from was Claim the Blessings of the Covenants by Sis. Reeves. 

One interested thing she brought up was she asked us,
"If you were to die today which kingdom of Heaven do you think you would go to?" 

She didn't have us answer but merely to think about the answer. She said in her Institute class lately their instructor has asked this same question in a lessons before. He would pass around slips of paper and have people anonymously write down which Kingdom they thought they would go to. Most didn't put the Celestial Kingdom. This is what he taught them: 

Covenants of Salvation: you need these 4 things -

1. Faith

2. Repentance

3. Baptisnm

4. Gift of the Holy Ghost

5. Endure to the End

How are you doing in this area? 

Then he listed out the Covenants of Exaltation: you need - 

1. Endowments

2. Sealing

To get to the Celestial Kingdom these 2 lists of things is what you have to do. 

There are degrees within the Celestial Kingdom as we know. But looking at the lists.....how are you doing now? It seems a little more attainable right? 

Joseph Fielding Smith said, "It is necessary, not merely that we believe, but that we repent," and he also taught that when we perform good works in faith until the end, we will receive the reward of the faithful and a place in the Celestial Kingdom of God." 

Lesson on the Temple

Sis. Mark taught the lesson this Sunday about the Temple. She mentioned a great interview that Sis. Beck did answering questions about the temple. Here is the link she promised to share: 
 
Episode 17: Temple Covenants
How can we prepare to enter the temple? After we’ve attended a session in the temple, where can we go with our questions? In what ways can the temple bring us closer to the Savior? Join us as Sister Julie B. Beck answers your questions about preparing to enter the temple and honoring the covenants we make there.
 http://broadcast2.lds.org/ldsradio/ReliefSociety/2011-08-0170-temple-covenants-64k-eng.mp3

Lesson Snippet - #3 The Plan of Salvation

Sis. Pressler taught the lesson today from the manual- #3 The plan of salvation. 

I honestly don't know when I have enjoyed a lesson on this so much. We will miss her as she now goes off to serve in Primary but we know there is where she is needed most at this time. 

The lesson had a wonderful story it that was worth sharing: 

 

A man walking along the road happens to fall into a pit so deep and dark that he cannot climb to the surface and regain his freedom. How can he save himself from his predicament? Not by any exertions on his own part, for there is no means of escape in the pit. He calls for help, and some kindly disposed soul, hearing his cries for relief, hastens to his assistance and by lowering a ladder, gives to him the means by which he may climb again to the surface of the earth. This was precisely the condition that Adam placed himself and his posterity in, when he partook of the forbidden fruit. All being together in the pit, none could gain the surface and relieve the others. The pit was banishment from the presence of the Lord and temporal death, the dissolution of the body. And all being subject to death, none could provide the means of escape.

 

The Savior comes along, not subject to that pit, and lowers the ladder. He comes down into the pit and makes it possible for us to use the ladder to escape.

In his infinite mercy, the Father heard the cries of his children and sent his Only Begotten Son, who was not subject to death nor to sin, to provide the means of escape. This he did through his infinite atonement and the everlasting gospel.

Joseph Fielding Smith

Sis Griffin gave this lesson this Sunday. Since we are learning from Joseph Fielding Smith all year from our manual she spotlighted this life. There are 32 pages at the beginning of the manual that talks about his history. She focused on his family, the people who he came from that taught and influenced who he became - especially the women in this life. 

A wonderful quote about him from the manual says this, 

"President Joseph Fielding Smith “used three great words that I can never forget,” recalled President Gordon B. Hinckley. Those words were “true and faithful.” President Hinckley said, “In his public addresses, in his private conversation, in his prayers to the Lord, he pleaded that we might be true and faithful.” President Thomas S. Monson shared a similar memory: “Even in his advanced years, [he] always prayed, ‘May we be true and faithful to the end.^"

“True and faithful.” For President Joseph Fielding Smith, this was more than an often-repeated phrase. It was a heartfelt expression of his hope for all people. It was also a description of his life, from his childhood through his service as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Lesson #2 summary - manual

Sister Melow taught our lesson today - 

Our Savior Jesus Christ

 She read and briefly talked about the 4 main headings in the lesson but Sister Melow put her focus on the attributes of Christ. She reminded us how easy it is to see these attributes in others but not so easy in ourselves. She handed out this Attributes activity paper that can be found on LDS.org

It lists 9 different attributes with supporting "explanations" and scriptures. Instead of focusing where we lacked she asked us to set aside our humility for the reminder of the class and name one thing in each category that we are already doing that displays this attribute. 

Several sisters shared and it was a wonderful way of building ourselves up in a good way and a way to better our self talk. 

Print off the sheet - it would make a wonderful FHE!

2014 - Sending out an SOS - our theme for the year

Dear Adams Park Ward Sisters-

Welcome to 2014! A year we hope is filled with opportunities and blessings for your families!

As we reflect back on our Relief Society theme last year: "Find JOY in your journey", we felt 

like it was important to keep our focus on joy (because counting our blessings should always 

be important in our lives), but narrow our direction to the source of true joy -- Jesus Christ. So 

throughout this next year we hope to support one another in a more concentrated focus on a 

journey to Seek Our Savior. (SOS)

We encourage you to create a personal SOS plan to develop a closer relationship with the Savior this year. All of us face different life circumstances and situations. We all need strength in dealing with them. This strength comes from faith in the Savior's love and in the power of His atonement.If we truly Seek Our Savior -- daily, weekly, monthly, and let it become a part of us -- we will be happier, our testimony will increase, and we will draw closer in our relationship to our Savior.Remember: "When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed." -Ezra Taft Benson

May we each feel of His loving guidance and influence-

Sister Snow

 

Windows of Heaven - teaching for our times lesson

Sis. Ashman taught our lesson today from the conference talk - Windows of Heavens

He mentions the small the significant blessings. 

What does that mean? What are the small yet significant things you have seen in your life? 

Elder Bednar says it's a simple plan that the Lords has for us. 

"Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience."

Lesson 22 snippets

Lesson 22 - Lorenzo Snow Manual
This lesson focused on making our heart and home a more heavenly place.
In this endeavor, everyday we should try

• To be a little more faithful
• To be a little better
• To have more love and affection for our neighbors
• To b e a friend to everyone, everywhere
• To extend our charity and labor in the interest of all mankind
• To be upright, just and merciful
• To exercise the spirit of nobility and goodness in all our act and dealings
• To cutlivate a spirit of charity
• To be ready to do for others more than we would expect from them
• To be ambitious to be great in the eyes of God
• To love the Lord they God with all our hear, mght, mind and strength
• To try to love mankind because they are our brethren
• To pray for the spiit of philanthophy

This looks like an overwhelming list, just try one thing a day, a week, or a month...progress is what's important
 
A person never can enjoy heaven until he learns how to get it and ac upon it's princples - President Lorenzo Snow

Snippets from Sundays lesson

Sister Amy Pressler gave the lesson, "The Kingdom of God Moves Forward" -- lesson 20 from the Lorenzo

Snow manual. What a wonderful lesson to go along with the emphasis our leaders are directing our

focus to in Hastening the Work.
President Lorenzo Snow said: "This work is built on a sure foundation, being founded on the rock of

ages….No matter who are lost by the way and make shipwreck of their faith, the Church will go on. This

Church will stand, because it is upon a firm basis….it has come directly from the Lord."

We discussed that with so many things in life that are unpredictable -- it is comforting to know we have

a gospel that is unchanging.

After being taught by our leaders this past general conference, may we feel the same desire that

President Snow felt after the October 1898 conference when he said: "Let us decree in our hearts,

let us inwardly testify to the Lord, that we will be a better people, a more united people at our next

Conference than we are today. This should be the feeling and determination of every man and woman

present in this solemn assembly. I feel in my heart that I will try to be more devoted than I have been in

the past to the interests of the kingdom of God and the carrying out of His purposes."

Great council from this lesson:

It is time for us to humble ourselves before God and accomplish the work He has entrusted to us.

"It is the business of those who profess to be engaged in [God's] work to move on, to go forward….So

long as there remains a step forward to be taken, that step should be taken."

Be of good Cheer - lesson summary

Sis. Murdock taught the lesson last week for the Teachings for our Times. Here's a few "nuggets" from it: 

- In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. 

 - Difficult times may lie ahead but you can still have joy.

- Sometimes we concentrate to much on our trials. 

Here's a great video she shared as well. It really helps put things in perspective.

Quote from Lesson 18

Sis. Laraway gave todays lesson from Chapter 18 of the manual - Church Leadership and Selfless Service. Such a fitting lesson the same day we get a new bishopric. 

We talked a little bit about characteristics that a good leader has and also the contrast between what a gospel leader and leader in the worlds eyes. 

A favorite quote from the lesson was this: 

"The Lord has not chosen the great and learned of the world to perform His work on the earth. It is not those who have been trained and educated in the colleges and seminaries of learning, but humble men devoted to His cause whom He has chosen to take charge of the affairs of His Church, men who are willing to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit, and who will of necessity give the glory until Him, knowing that of themselves they can do nothing."

Ensign Peak RS Activity

Last month our RS Activity was to hike to Ensign Peak. It was a memorable night for sure. As the activity started I had the idea to create this video to capture the moments along the way. Thank you Marilyn for sharing your photos as well. The video wouldn't be complete without them. And thanks to the RS committee for the organizing the night! 

Presidency Message from Sis. Snow

Sis. Snow taught the lesson this Sunday and the message for this months newsletter coincides right along with it! 

September is here marking another change in the season and the beginning of a new school year for our families. As we see the children going back to school, I would ask each of us what we are doing to obtain our "higher education." Along with our scripture study and attending church, I would also encourage making temple attendance a top priority to obtain greater understanding and learning. What a blessing this resource is that is just waiting for us to explore, yet often gets overlooked because of busy schedules filling up our time.

 Elder Perry spoke on the need for finding balance in life and emphasized the need to provide time for family, time for work, time for study, time for service, time for self, and especially time for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why do you think he emphasized "especially time for the gospel of Jesus Christ?" I know that when you put that first, everything else that is needful will work out for your good.

I loved the example Elder Ballard shared in his conference address of the wilted tomato plant. (see April 2013 "This is My Work and Glory")

"Her small tomato plant, so full of potential but so weakened and wilted from unintentional neglect, was strengthened and revived through the simple ministration of water and light by the little girl's loving and caring hands."

"Brothers and sisters, as the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited, divine potential. But if we are not careful, we can become like the wilted tomato plant. We can drift away from the true doctrine and gospel of Christ and become spiritually undernourished and wilted, having removed ourselves from the divine light and living

waters of the Savior's eternal love and priesthood power.

 "What a powerful lesson -- through unintentional neglect we will drift and become spiritually distanced from our Savior's influence in our lives. Please take time to the check the condition of your testimony of Jesus Christ. Let us be ever diligent to provide the nurturing of divine light and living water to strengthen our devotion to hold fast to His principles and follow in His footsteps.

I am so excited about the news in the current September Ensign where it was announced that beginning in October the Relief Society Visiting Teaching Messages will focus on the divine mission of Jesus Christ and His many roles and attributes. How wonderful it will be to focus on the teachings and examples of our Savior and discuss this with the sisters we visit. Individuals and families will be strengthened as we invite the influence of the Savior into our lives.

Thank you for all you do to watch over, serve and love one another!

Sister Snow

Obedience Lesson Nugget

Sis Murdock taught today and pulled her lesson from 2 different conference talks in obedience. Here's a few nuggets from her lesson: 

3 Reasons why people don't obey the commandments - 

1) We convince ourselves the commandments don't apply to us

2) We don't believe they are important

3) It's too difficult to obey

I loved this quote she shared: 

You can't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you aren't willing to move your feet

Lesson 16 nugget

Sister Laraway gave the lesson today from Chapter 16 - That we may become one. 

She said when we think of unity we sometimes think of sameness. But we are different and we need to be. When we think of Unity it's not about all being the same. We can still be united and be different. 

How can we bind ourselves together? 

Pres. Snow said , "We talk considerably in regard to the principle of loving our neighbors as well as we love ourselves; we talk about it and we sometimes think about it, but how much do we really enter into the spirit of these things...Let your minds be expanded to comprehend and look after the interest of your friends that are around you, and where it is in your power to secure benefits to your friend do so...

We have the opportunity to RISE UP and reach out to those around us. Those that are in our ward but don't feel a part. Those that are struggling. Those we don't know. Those seeking a friend. Or those just seeking for someone to sit by. What about those wondering if anyone even knows they aren't there? 

We are united but only to a certain point or level. If we each did our own small part to become more unity it would trickle around the ward and our sisterhood would increase.

Chapter 15 - Lesson nugget

Sis. Amy Pressler gave the lesson today from Chapter 15 - Faithful, Energetic Service in the Kingdom of God. You can read the full lesson here but one of my favorite take aways from the lesson was this quote: 

"Because we have received the fulness of the gospel, we serve as ambassadors of Christ.

We testify to the whole world that we know...through the same Holy Spirit, we have become witnesses of him, and, having been called by the same divine and holy calling, we therefore assume the same position. Then, having assumed this position, we assume all the responsibilities of ambassadors of Christ, we become answerable for our individual acts and for the manner in which we use the talents and ability the Lord has given us."

 

What does it mean to YOU to be an ambassador of Christ?