Introduction
I had an experience earlier this month that I found interesting. I woke up in the morning and planned my day. Within an hour ideas and thoughts came to my my mind modifying my plans. It started with my wife asking me if I wanted to go to lunch. I changed my lunch plans confirming that my wife would be available. I felt prompted to text my son asking him how he was doing. He immediately calls me with news that his mother-in-law wasn't doing well in the hospital. Karen and I visited this very sick woman in the hospital at lunch.
Tell story about thoughts and impressions regarding Thursday, December 6.
1. Wife asked if i wanted to go to lunch
2. I thought, I would cancel my appt at lunch and go with her
3. I then had a thought come to me to text my son to see how he's doing
4. He calls me and says that his mother in law is not doing well
5. I contact Karen and we visit her at the hospital at lunch
I believe that I received quiet promptings that morning to shape events the rest of the day. These small events help me with my faith, my assurance that God cares about me. This increases my vision of gospel. The lesson today is about gaining our own vision of ourselves as the the Lord see us.
Say: Be thinking about the promptings you have received lately (in the past week or month) that you acted on. Think about how these promptings from the Holy Ghost increases your vision and testimony
Elder O. Vincent Haleck's talk in the April General Conference, is entitled, "Having the Vision To Do"
Write 'Vision'
What does vision mean? (an inspired ideal that motivates us be better)
Read A
A - How do we, amidst the challenges of our lives, gain the vision necessary to do those things that will bring us closer to the Savior? Speaking of vision, the book of Proverbs teaches this truth: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). If we are to prosper rather than perish, we must gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us.
Say: Elder Haleck suggests some things we can do gain a vision. Without reading what he has to say, what are things we can do gain a vision of gospel and the Latter-day work?
1. Listen to/ read what modern day apostles say and apply their teachings
2. Read the scriptures
3. Fast and Pray
4. Go on missions
Read B
B - We experience hard things in our lives that can sometimes diminish our vision and faith to do the things we should. We become so busy that we often feel overwhelmed and unable to do any more.
Say: We all have times when our vision, our enthusiasm, our excitement diminishes.
Q: What do we do when this occurs? (renew our commitment, supplicate for the Spirit, take more time pondering and being still, give service)
READ C
C - When we study the life of our Savior and His teachings, we see Him amongst the people teaching, praying, lifting, and healing. When we emulate Him and do the things we see Him do, we begin to see a vision of who we can become. You will be blessed with insight through the help of the Holy Ghost to do more good. Changes will begin to come, and you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your family. During His ministry among the Nephites, the Savior asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” He replied, “Even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27). We need His help to become like Him, and He has shown us the way: “Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened” (3 Nephi 27:29).
'we see Him amongst the people'
Q: What do we do to emulate the Savior?
Q: "When we emulate Him and do the things we see Him do, we begin see a vision of who we can become", What does that mean? Q: What is the key ingredient
Q: Elder Haleck said, 'You will be blessed with insight through the help of the Holy Ghost to more good'
Q: How do we get insight on what we should be doing? (each of us have specific gifts and talents. the Holy Ghost will help us do more good).
SAY; This is in contrast to what the vast majority of the world does day in and day out.
Say, I would like to quote Joseph Smith, in the King Follett Discourse, regarding what makes us more than just beasts. I sometimes get into a rut, eating, drinking a sleeping. I think it helps us understand the vision we need to have about our life on this earth.
READ D
D - There are but a very few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God.
The great majority of mankind do not comprehend anything, either that which is past, or
that which is to come, as it respects their relationship to God. They do not know, neither
do they understand the nature of that relationship; and consequently they know but little
above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about
God or his existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty.
If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any
of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and
knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to
comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If men do not comprehend the character
of God, they do not comprehend themselves. I want to go back to the beginning, and so
lift you minds into a more lofty sphere and a more exalted understanding than what the
human mind generally aspires to.
SAY; We need to lift our minds and actions above our natural tendencies.
Q: Going back to the previous quote, Elder Haleck states that, 'Changes will begin to come, and you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your family.' [REPEAT THIS]
Q: "changes will begin to come", what brought the change when it comes?
Q: "you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your familiy,: can any of you describe this different order for the rest of us?
Q: Elder states, ' WE need His help to become like Him', why do we need His help?, What is the help that he gives?
Elder David A Bednar in this year's April Ensign, a article entitled, The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality said the following:
READ E
E - Most of us know that when we do wrong things, we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives. The Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. We may mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities....
Q: What is it a mistake to believe that we can become a saint all by ourselves? (it can't be done)
READ F
F - I am not suggesting that the redeeming and enabling powers of the Atonement are separate and discrete. Rather, these two dimensions of the Atonement are connected and complementary; they both need to be operational during all phases of the journey of life. And it is eternally important for all of us to recognize that both of these essential elements of the journey of mortality—both putting off the natural man and becoming a saint, both overcoming bad and becoming good—are accomplished through the power of the Atonement. Individual willpower, personal determination and motivation, effective planning and goal setting are necessary but ultimately insufficient for us to triumphantly complete this mortal journey. Truly, we must come to rely upon “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8).
Application:
SAY: As I read these gospel concepts, I have to ask myself, how do obtain the grace of the Holy Messiah. Brother Haleck suggests a first step:
Read G
G - I bear you my witness of the Savior and His desire for us to return to Him. To do that, we must have the faith to do—to follow Him and become like Him. Throughout various times of our lives, He holds out His hand and invites us:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30).
Read B
B - We experience hard things in our lives that can sometimes diminish our vision and faith to do the things we should. We become so busy that we often feel overwhelmed and unable to do any more.
Say: We all have times when our vision, our enthusiasm, our excitement diminishes.
Q: What do we do when this occurs? (renew our commitment, supplicate for the Spirit, take more time pondering and being still, give service)
READ C
C - When we study the life of our Savior and His teachings, we see Him amongst the people teaching, praying, lifting, and healing. When we emulate Him and do the things we see Him do, we begin to see a vision of who we can become. You will be blessed with insight through the help of the Holy Ghost to do more good. Changes will begin to come, and you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your family. During His ministry among the Nephites, the Savior asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” He replied, “Even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27). We need His help to become like Him, and He has shown us the way: “Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened” (3 Nephi 27:29).
'we see Him amongst the people'
Q: What do we do to emulate the Savior?
Q: "When we emulate Him and do the things we see Him do, we begin see a vision of who we can become", What does that mean? Q: What is the key ingredient
Q: Elder Haleck said, 'You will be blessed with insight through the help of the Holy Ghost to more good'
Q: How do we get insight on what we should be doing? (each of us have specific gifts and talents. the Holy Ghost will help us do more good).
SAY; This is in contrast to what the vast majority of the world does day in and day out.
Say, I would like to quote Joseph Smith, in the King Follett Discourse, regarding what makes us more than just beasts. I sometimes get into a rut, eating, drinking a sleeping. I think it helps us understand the vision we need to have about our life on this earth.
READ D
D - There are but a very few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God.
The great majority of mankind do not comprehend anything, either that which is past, or
that which is to come, as it respects their relationship to God. They do not know, neither
do they understand the nature of that relationship; and consequently they know but little
above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about
God or his existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty.
If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any
of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and
knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to
comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If men do not comprehend the character
of God, they do not comprehend themselves. I want to go back to the beginning, and so
lift you minds into a more lofty sphere and a more exalted understanding than what the
human mind generally aspires to.
SAY; We need to lift our minds and actions above our natural tendencies.
Q: Going back to the previous quote, Elder Haleck states that, 'Changes will begin to come, and you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your family.' [REPEAT THIS]
Q: "changes will begin to come", what brought the change when it comes?
Q: "you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your familiy,: can any of you describe this different order for the rest of us?
Q: Elder states, ' WE need His help to become like Him', why do we need His help?, What is the help that he gives?
Elder David A Bednar in this year's April Ensign, a article entitled, The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality said the following:
READ E
E - Most of us know that when we do wrong things, we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives. The Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. We may mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities....
Q: What is it a mistake to believe that we can become a saint all by ourselves? (it can't be done)
READ F
F - I am not suggesting that the redeeming and enabling powers of the Atonement are separate and discrete. Rather, these two dimensions of the Atonement are connected and complementary; they both need to be operational during all phases of the journey of life. And it is eternally important for all of us to recognize that both of these essential elements of the journey of mortality—both putting off the natural man and becoming a saint, both overcoming bad and becoming good—are accomplished through the power of the Atonement. Individual willpower, personal determination and motivation, effective planning and goal setting are necessary but ultimately insufficient for us to triumphantly complete this mortal journey. Truly, we must come to rely upon “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8).
Application:
SAY: As I read these gospel concepts, I have to ask myself, how do obtain the grace of the Holy Messiah. Brother Haleck suggests a first step:
Read G
G - I bear you my witness of the Savior and His desire for us to return to Him. To do that, we must have the faith to do—to follow Him and become like Him. Throughout various times of our lives, He holds out His hand and invites us:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30).
Elder Ballard said the following in the October General Conference in his talk entitled, "Be Anxiously Engaged"
READ H
H - Now, brothers and sisters, I’m not encouraging religious zealotry or fanaticism. Quite the contrary! I’m simply suggesting that we take the next logical step in our complete conversion to the gospel of Christ by assimilating its doctrines deep within our hearts and our souls so we will act and live consistently—and with integrity—what we profess to believe.
This integrity simplifies our lives and amplifies our sensitivities to the Spirit and to the needs of others. It brings joy into our lives and peace to our souls—the kind of joy and peace that comes to us as we repent of our sins and follow the Savior by keeping His commandments.
How do we make this change? How do we ingrain this love of Christ into our hearts? There is one simple daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the Church...
That simple practice is: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.
Q: Why would is it important to have our spiritual sensitivities enlarged?
Q: Doing this daily practice, will bring about what in our lives?
SAY : I would like to hear from you. What experiences have you had with the Holy Ghost is the last week or month? I would like a few of you to share.
Conclusion:
There is a change that occurs within us and we progress through the process of being sanctified. This change finally results in rending the veil of unbelief. We know we are connected to the true Vine. We no longer fear the vicissitudes of life. We know that God is watching over us. We are partaking of the Heavenly Gift. We understand from our own experience the scriptures regarding blessings flowing to us our true. Alma 7, Mosiah 2, Mormon 9
READ H
H - Now, brothers and sisters, I’m not encouraging religious zealotry or fanaticism. Quite the contrary! I’m simply suggesting that we take the next logical step in our complete conversion to the gospel of Christ by assimilating its doctrines deep within our hearts and our souls so we will act and live consistently—and with integrity—what we profess to believe.
This integrity simplifies our lives and amplifies our sensitivities to the Spirit and to the needs of others. It brings joy into our lives and peace to our souls—the kind of joy and peace that comes to us as we repent of our sins and follow the Savior by keeping His commandments.
How do we make this change? How do we ingrain this love of Christ into our hearts? There is one simple daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the Church...
That simple practice is: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.
Q: Why would is it important to have our spiritual sensitivities enlarged?
Q: Doing this daily practice, will bring about what in our lives?
SAY : I would like to hear from you. What experiences have you had with the Holy Ghost is the last week or month? I would like a few of you to share.
Conclusion:
There is a change that occurs within us and we progress through the process of being sanctified. This change finally results in rending the veil of unbelief. We know we are connected to the true Vine. We no longer fear the vicissitudes of life. We know that God is watching over us. We are partaking of the Heavenly Gift. We understand from our own experience the scriptures regarding blessings flowing to us our true. Alma 7, Mosiah 2, Mormon 9
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