Lesson - Trial of Your Faith, April 28, 2013

Trial of Your Faith, April 28, 2013

By Elder Neil L. Andersen

Elder Henry B Eyring, Where is Thy Pavillion?

Elder Marcus B Nash, By Faith all things are fulfilled

Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Lord, I Believe

Introduction

This lesson today is on Trials of our Faith.  It is taken from ... Anderson, Nash and Eyring and Holland

Problem: When fiery trials come upon us, they are so well disguised that we sometimes feel like God has forsaken us and give up.

Solution: Don't give up the faith.

tell experience ; wife broken hip, son in rehab, my investor bankrupts, I have a part time job.

Say, We cannot judge trial of others, Elder Anderson said, "A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another."

Learner Readiness (What shakes our faith?)

Let's read four Quotations:

READ

1. Quotation from Elder Eyring

Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him. That is not easy in a world where the opinions of other human beings can have such an effect on our motives. But it will help us recognize this truth: God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children.

READ

2. Quotation from Elder Anderson

These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They take root in our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or in those things that matter most to us. A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another.

READ

3. Quotation from Elder Nash

,... fear distracts from and undermines faith in the Savior. The Apostle Peter looked to the Lord one stormy night and walked on water—until he averted his gaze and “saw the wind boisterous [and] was afraid” and then sank into the stormy sea.  He could have continued walking if he had not feared! Rather than our focusing upon and fearing the boisterous wind and waves in our lives, the Lord invites us to “look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

Q: What kind of things shake our faith? (opinions of man, our vulnerabilities, fear, fiery trials)

READ

4. Quotation from Elder Anderson

 Peter later encouraged others: “Think it not strange,” he said, “concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."

Learner Involvement (Why is our faith tried?)

Q: In the context of trials of our faith, what is faith? [believing in things that are inherently unseen and acting according to our beliefs]

Q: Why do we sometimes view our trials as some strange thing?

[we like it when things are good, we erroneously believe that bad things don't happen when we are righteous]

Q: Are trials a part of life?

Q: What happens after we successfully pass through a trial? (we learn that God is with us, miracles happen)

Q: Ultimately, if a trial of one's faith is designed to have a positive outcome, what is a trial of our faith really designed to do.  [designed to provide evidence whether or not God is really involved in our lives, whether or not unseen principles are true]

Learner Application (what do we do when a fiery trial comes upon us?) 

Q: So, what's the worse thing we can do when a trial of our faith comes our way?

READ

Quotation - Elder Nash

When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view.

Quotation - Elder Holland 

I said I was speaking to the young. I still am. A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.” I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out. I told him with all the fervor of my soul that belief is a precious word, an even more precious act, and he need never apologize for “only believing.” I told him that Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe,” a phrase which, by the way, carried young Gordon B. Hinckley into the mission field. I told this boy that belief was always the first step toward conviction and that the definitive articles of our collective faith forcefully reiterate the phrase “We believe.” And I told him how very proud I was of him for the honesty of his quest.

Q: Why did I put this quote in the lesson?  You aren't 14 year olds.

Q: Is Believing in God, trusting in God, relying wholly upon His merits a small part of faith or is it a large part of faith?  What should be the balance between believing and doing?

Q: What have you done to develop unshaken faith in God?

Conclusion

 Read:

 Nash: How do you remain “steadfast and immovable” during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others.

Nash : We too can exercise such faith in the Lord, believing and trusting that our kind and constant God will bless us with His miraculous power suited to our circumstance, according to His timing. As we do so, we too will see the hand of God manifest in our lives.

Peter described these experiences as “much more precious than … gold.”26 Moroni added that a witness follows “the trial of your faith.”

Stay true

Believe in God

Stay strong

Believe that God is interested in you and love you.

Finally, believe in miracles after the trial of your faith.

Amen.

2. Quotation from Elder Nash

If, because of unbelief or doubt, you find your faith wavering, remember that even the ancient Apostles implored the Lord to “increase our faith.” Bearing in mind that faith and reason are necessary companions, consider the following analogy: faith and reason are like the two wings of an aircraft. Both are essential to maintain flight. If, from your perspective, reason seems to contradict faith, pause and remember that our perspective is extremely limited compared with the Lord’s. Do not discard faith any more than you would detach a wing from an aircraft in flight. Instead, nurture a particle of faith and permit the hope it produces to be an anchor to your soul—and to your reason.

Q: Back to the Wings of an airplane analogy: Why are reason and faith necessary companions?

Additional Material

3 Nephi 26

8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.

9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater thingsbe made manifest unto them.

10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.

11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.

Q: Why is the Book of Mormon a trial of our faith?

Q: What are some principles and precepts in the Book of Mormon that we must do?

  Mosiah 10:11 strength of the Lord

  Rely wholly on His merits who is mighty to save.

  Perfect in Christ = denying ungodliness and coming unto Christ

  Pride

  Working on our weaknesses

The Community Foundation of Jacob 2 - Part I

As I studied the words of Jacob to his people, I realized that Jacob dictated (from God) two community principles upon which the Nephites were to build their civilization.  The foundation principles were temporal equality and gender equality.  These two principles are outgrowths of living or striving to live, the principles of the gospel.  Instead dispelling already embedded false traditions, Jacob, was not going let them get started. (Jacob 2:5).  Nephi's group had grown large enough by this time that the people weren't inherently acting as a cohesive family unit.  So, this first regulation was made.  Their society and their church were essential the same.

Jacob seeing that some men are now obtaining more wealth than other men, were beginning to walk in the pride of their hearts (Jacob 2:13).  Their wearing of fine apparel and their persecuting of their brethren are the evidences Jacob uses to show their pride.  Jacob tries to impress upon their minds the gravity of the matter by telling them that God could strike them down with a single glance (v.10,15).  Jacob later infers that their abundance is a gift from God (v.20) and temporal inequality is an abomination unto God (v. 21).  No wonder Jacob tells his brethren to "be free with their substance, that they may be rich like unto you"(v.17).  He explains in his way what Christ taught in his ministry in Palestine to seek first for the Kingdom of God and all things would be added unto them (Matthew 6:33).  The obvious outcome of first having a hope in Christ is to use your surplus riches to help others (v.18,19).

The Nephite prophets sought to uphold and maintain the foundation principles taught by their fathers.  Two of these were temporal equality and gender equality (to be discussed).  Their church was built on these principles. Falling away from these principles was consider wickedness and pride. I find it curious that we, the LDS people, continuously strive to arrive at a similar state (of mind and reality).  We are coming from a different direction, though.  To dispel our deep set traditions is not easy.  Our logic, and the natural man within us, easily dismisses the idea that temporal equality will work.  More progress has been made in the area of gender equality.

April 7, 2013 PM General Conference

Holland

If thou canst believe all things.  Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.

Straight way, Lord I believe, help thou unbelief.  He heals the boy.

Those young in years of faith.

1. The father asserts his faith.  Lord I believe
Remember this man.  Hold the ground you have already won.  When those moments come, hold fast to what you already know.  This specific miracle, Jesus said, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed.  The size of your faith is not the issue.  Be true to your faith that you do have.
2.  Don't lead with your unbelief.  Be true to the faith you do have.  Have an honest declaration of faith rather than your declaration of your unbelief.  You have more faith than you think you do.  The fruit of living the gospel is evident in LDS every where.  This cannot be denied.  This is a divine work in process.  Do not hyperventilate about issue that need to be examined and resolved.  In this world everyone is to walk by faith.  Imperfect people is all God has to do to deal with it.  Be patient and kind and forgiving.
3.  When doubt or difficulty come don't be afraid to ask for help.  Importune God acting no hypocrisy.  I can't say yet ....  I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out.  Be not afraid, only believe. Belief was always the first step toward conviction.

I know that God is at all times and all circumstances is our loving Father in Heaven.
I know that JS acknowledging that he was imperfect.
I know that president Thomas S. Monson is the rightful successor of the mantle of prophet.

More sure word of prophecy.  I know.  Lean on mine.  This work is God's work.  Don't allow doubt or devils stop you.  Fan the faith of your belief.

Dallim H. Oaks.

Follow in the footsteps of Christ.  Study the life of the Savior.
Review examples and teachings.  Invite you how this restored church and each of us qualify.
Baptism necessary to enter the kingdom of God.
Invite people to repent
If you love me keep my commandments.
Leave that which is highly esteemed among men and the traditions of men.
Ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
We should not be of the world or bound to the traditions of men.
Some model themselves after the worldly ways.
Worldly practices such as Political Correctness, grooming, teaching about the family.
Whosoever hearth these things and doeth them, I will liken unto a wise man.....
If we love him we will be obedient.
Continuous commitment that applies at all times and all places.
Partake of the sacrament as emblems of him.
We do this each week and covcnant.
We are taught to pray.  We pray in our worship services.
Daily kneeling prays as a family.
The restored church follows the example of Jesus Christ.
No man having put his hand to the plow.   Missionary duties ...
Male and female.  Leave his parents and cleave to his wife.
Seek after the flock who has strayed.  rescue and serve.
Love.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
New commandment.  as I have loved you.  Love one another.
When we are wronged, we should forgive them.
Give loving forgiveness.  forgive the drunken driver.  As a disciple of Christ, I had no other choice.
Giving to charities.  We fast for tow meals and donate to Chruch to help
Less well known is the church humanitarian donations.  100s of millions of dollars.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Be ye therefore perfect.  We are all heirs.  Heirs with God and joint heirs with Christ.  We inherit all things. All that he has.  Only if we follow the Savior.

Chistobel Golden Jr.

About the Father.  JC is the great Jehova.

Elder Falabella

1. The temple is the place The home.  Getting married.  Expiration date.  Shake hand with everyone. Gathered enough to get to Guatemala.
2. In order to contend, you need two people and I will never be one of them. physical abuse.  still far from eliminating emotional abuse.  wounds our personality.
3. A child who sings is a happy child.  Sacred music.  My soul delighteth in the song of the heart.
4. **send nice texts
5. Read the Book of Mormon.
6. Live the scriptures.  Blance (wife).  She taught me how to live it.  Wise man building his house on a rock.  they bring peace.

Elder Kolpischke

Always felt his love and confidence in me.  Feel his acceptance.  His father.  Being accepted by good people motivates us.  Seeking acceptance.  Bad friends or status.  Dangerous path.  to destruction.  Eventually feel abandoned and inferior.  Look to God and live.  Lasting accptance of HF and JC.  They look into our hearts.  They accept us for who we are and what we are striving to become.

Pattern:  know their hearts are honest and broken.  We look into our hearts.  We know our motives and desires. This is honest.  Broken heart is open and receptive.  He knocks. Open this door to Him.  Honest and broken.  We will be taught by the Holy Ghost.


Spirits are contrite. Acknowedge that we have done something wrong.  Willing to listen to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.  Willing.

keep their covenants by sacrifice.  Conscious decision.  Something big or hard.  No so.  Everyday we work on this.  Renew and confirm our sacred promises to the Lord.   The Sacrament.  Always having his Spirit to be with us.  Accept a calling in the church.  Rescue others.  Silent service.  Simply striving for righteousness. Observing our covenants when things are raging around us.

Seeking and receiving the acceptance of the Lord.brings forth great blessings.  His loving acceptance will motivate.  We will feel at peace.  Fear not little children.  I have overcome the world.

Bruce D. Porter.

The last supper.  they did not know that it would be called this.  Darkest hours imminent. In the world you shall have tribulation.  Be of good cheer.  Wickedness in Vengeance.  Last dispensation.  We live in it.  I have overcome the world.  We need not fear the future or falter in good cheer.  Fear not.  Jesus repeated that counsel many times.  I the Lord am with you and will stand by you.  Peace in Zion and in her Stakes.  Defense and refuge from the storm.  When poured out beyond measure....

Stone cut out without hands will fill the whole earth.  JC is the chief corner stone.  Everyone of us can be armed with the power of God as a defense.  Let the Spirit be our guide.  Humbly, quietly trust in the Lord, we will be blessed with deep inner peace.  just a joyful as I do now.

Life begins with a motarized wheel chair.  Pauls faith never dimmed.

Optimistic person named Bruce.  Impossible not to feel bouyed up in his presence.  Tom, in snow, he heard someone singing.  Here came singing.  Oh what a beautiful morning.  A symbol of faith and hope. We may sing with joy rejoicing that God is with this church.  Two other mornings - Spring of 1820.  JS entered a grove of trees in prayer.

Monson

Love and good will to all. Savior has provided this to all,.

Widows and widowers
Drug abuse

We live in a time in the world's history.
I we will put our trust in the Lord, he will help us through our difficulites whatever they may be.  i am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the key to our happiness.

God lives.  he hears the prayers of humble hearts.  He will come in to us.  We must open on door which He knocks.  Nuture your testimonies.  Until we meet gain in six months.  the Lord bless and keep you. Invoke a blessing upon you.

April 6, 2013 - LDS Conference Sat, PM

Don't forget to pray (song)

Uctdorft

Packard, Perry, Nelson, Oaks, Ballard, Scott, Hales, Holland, Bednar, Cook, Christopherson, Anderson

Cantwell

Brook P Hales

Scott

Place of refuge.  The home.  Quiet place to reset.  Center your home and your life on the Lord.  He is the source of true peace in your life.  All decisions, what the Savior would have you do.

** Make your children accountable for your actions.
** Daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study
** Apply sound gospel principles.
Simple consistent good habits.
tech devices can have filth in them.  Waste of time.
** do all we can to have the gentle guidance of the Holy Ghost in your life.
When we serve obediently we gain power from the Lord.
This is an absolute law.  Friends will blossom on your Christ centered environment.  Love abounds.
** Be a true friend.  as a treasure, find a good model for a family.
a positive response to our rescue efforts can occur.  Be patient.
Some things are left to the Lord.  He is in the watch care of the Lord. (James and Steven and Shawn)
Hope is not a thin thread.  Place your trust in the Lord.  We need not worry.  We don't do things simultaneously.  One step at a time.  The Lord will direct us.


Cook

The doctrine of peace.  Having a lasting peace.  How to find peace.  Newton, CT funeral.  Ivory Coast city of Abajan.
Rob our peace, things do.  World trade center.  Made their way to the Manhattan Stake Center.  Stakes of Zion are refuge from the storm when wrath to be poured out on the earth without measure.
World peace vs. God's peace.  Thing not that I have come to send peace on the earth.  He did not bring peace.  Peace shall be taken from the earth.  In deed, peace has been taken.  But, the goal is peace.  Mankind must receive his truth and acknowledge His authority.

Peace is a promised reward to righteousness.  Peace in this life.  Gift from God.  Abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.  Calm and happiness.

Saviors peace eases our suffering and hate.  Peace by focusing on family history.  Knowing that the Lord loves us and he knows who we are.   [connected to the vine].

God is the author of peace.  Reject God, no peace.  Abuse of agency leaves us angry, defenseless, vulnerable.

All the rules will be fair and their will be wonderful surprises.
Not found in all the stuff of the world.  Where can I turn for peace?  Answer:  The Savior, source and author.  Humbling ourselves, repenting, becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ.  Peace of conscience.   Essential for peace.  Unload your burdens on the Lord.  Bare a song away.

Ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.

Fiji temple.  martial law.  open house.  in celestial room.  tears, feelings of peace of Hindu woman.  Grace of Jesus, we are given peace.  Comforter, peace I leave with you, peace I give unto  you.

In me ye shall have peace.  amen

Stanley Ellis
No Sugar Coating....   Whatever dude!
I am a 70.
Finding the Lord's way. The Lord has a way to do everything.  "every man walketh in his own way" in the last days.  We get blessed if we do it the Lord's way.  The Lord looketh on the heart.  Helping the poor and the needy must be in my own way.  Promoting self reliance.  Evils of the dole.

Do all that we do in His way.

Dickson

Africa, believing, faithful people. They believe in God.  Have no shame.  every couple weeks another ward is made.  You sense their faith.  to join a priesthood class is a sacred experience.  not concerned about having endless material possessions.  Little interest in having enormous homes and expensive cars.  Not incumbered with material things.  Things that matter little.  But they are filled with the things that matter most.

Bednar

limitations prepare us for eternity.  Experiences that we must have.  Male and female was needed to inact the plan of happiness.  Strengthen, bless and complete each other.  Adam and Eve, multiply and replenish the earth.  Marriage between a man and a woman is the right way.  complete abstenance before marriage.  Use that power correctly. Dont misuse God's power of procreation.  Don't use it as evil.  Ultimate expression of diving nature. Contemporary behaviors.  natural man is carnal and sensual, selfish, earthy man, rude animal passions.  Bridle all passions, constrained, deny yourselfand take up your cross.

Nelson

Missionary work.  Lots of them.  Be on the crest of the wave.

April 7, 2013 Sunday AM

Uctdorf - great talk on progressing in the light

Anderson - Preach the gospel to the whole earth.  Is this possible?  Signs and miracles were following the faith of the believers.

JS time - voice of warning to all people.  Was it possible?  Will miracles follow them?  1000's baptized in England.  45 preachers were baptized.

We are few in number.  We are eyewitnesses of Daniels prophecy - cut without hands.

Young men and women moved forward - 18 year old men and 19 year old women submitted apps all within five days!

Growing number of missionaries throughout the world.

We follow the Saviors mandate, go you forth to all nations, preaching the gospel.  We are witnessing the miracles of the Lord as well.  We are part of this unfolding miracle.  Paint missionary work on your heart.  We all have a contribution to make to this miracle.

** pray for areas of the world where are influence is limited.
** pray for opportunities to share the gospel.
** always be ready to have an answer

hold up your light that it may shine.

Promise: pray to know who  to speak to.  Faith will overcome doubt.

"come and see"  how I live, come and see the Christ.  We have found the Christ.
Some will come and some will not.  Invite those to come back and see once more.  A person's  lack of interest need not diminish our love.

** share your faith online more.
** create a blog

This isn't missionary work, this is missionary fun!

** keep the full time missionaries in your thoughts and prayers.

Moxambique - marriage - dowry - expense - can't afford - legally marry - they were married on Friday and baptized on Saturday.

This work is a miracle.


Rosemary Wixom

Okay to try to make mistakes, to try, to do insignificant things.  Influence a child by increasing his or her confidence.  Increase faith through the words we speak.  We build our foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ.

Still small voice - that is how the Lord speaks to us.  Children need to be spoken to with mildness.

** Given to us in the very hour, yea in the very minute what you shall say or do.

** Disconnect technology, everything in the home.  The silence may be disturbing.  But a conversation will occur.

25 words hanoi prisoner.  "These things are important, temple marriage, ......take pictures twice a year.

** speak and write to your children in Love, reflect the love we have for them and God's  love for them.

Elder L Whitney Clayton
Watch and Learn - His grand daughter
Marriage - no other relationship,  priceless
Eternal marriages are based on faith on the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Pay and honest tithing.  no picking an choosing some things and disregarding the rest.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation.
Repentance in marriage - self evaluation, take steps to take corrective actions.  Humility is the essence of repentance.  humility recognizes that no one can change someone  else.  Treat our spouses with meekness.  Put the other first in every decision.
Fourth, respect - equal partners, no domination, not in keeping with divine law.  Make decision unanimously, helping each other with their shared responsibilities.  turn off electronics.  help with household responsibilities.  help with children, read with them.  They go to bed together.
Transparency - access to all financial information.  fiercely loyal to each other.  No secrets.  Share profiles and passwords.  Virtually or physically.
Fifth - Love.  Cleave unto her and none else.  completely devoted to each other.  Love each other with complete devotion.

Single - persevere, may heaven bless you richly. Keep the commandments.  One day every promised blessing will be yours.  Promises of the Lord will come unto them.

Elder L Tom Perry

War of words, deeds and thoughts.  Secularism is beginning be the norm.
obedience to law is liberty.  Universal and eternal law.  Be a man and live abundantly, observe God's law.  Freedom from sin. Obedience to law is liberty.  Why does it ring true to us?

Satan, the destruction of Man's agency was the cost.  Victory in the war in heaven was over agency.  Now, Satan does his back up plan.  Make us miserable.  he is driven to succeed.  He is part of the test of our agency.  Choice between liberty and eternal life or captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devel.  Seeketh to make all men miserable like himself.

War against sin.  Live the commandments of God.  Ten commandments.  Most acceptable delineation between good and evil.  We dismiss the other six commandments:  idols of celebrities and wealth, profane God's name,  Sabbath day is misused.  Sexuality as recreation.  Coveting is rampant.

man to substitute his own rules on either end (procreation and murder).  Marriage is part of this deterioration.  We remove the glue that hold our society together.  How signficant is the home and family?  sacred powers of procreation is only in marriage.  Sin is always sin.  God's commandments do not change.  Wickedness never was happiness.

DC 130 - law irrevocably decreed. Blessing predicated upon obedience to law.  moral absolutes.  Moral compass is faulting.  No picking and choosing all His commandment.

** Have a perfect trust in his promises.  Be a beckon.

President Thomas S Monson

there is no need to travel unmarked paths.  As we are obedient, we receive knowledge and light.  Obey rules.  Many learn through experience the wisdom of being obedient.  Vivian Park, carefree days.  Hiking and climbing, fishing.   Wanting to build a fire.  Grass dry and prickely.  Set the weeds on fire.  eight year old boy tommy.  We were forbidden to use matches.  Dangers of fire.  We needed to clear that field.  it would burn as far as we wanted.  ignited although they were drenched in gasoline.  We panicked.  fire endangering the pine trees.  Several hours the last remaining embers were extinquished.  Learned lessons.  Importance of obedience.

Spiritual safety.  Navigate this often treachourous existence.  To obey is better than to sacrifice.  he requires a willing heart and mind.  Eat the bread of Zion in the last days.

Never once did Nephi fail.

Soul stirring account; Abraham and Isaac.  Offer him as a sacrifice.  Anguish racked his body and tortured his mind.  Took knife.  Lay not thou hand on the lad.  Thy only son.  passed the test.  In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Obedience is good to do.   Just do it.
Walter Crowsa  - east Germany.  Lack of freedom.  He loved and served the Lord.  Johann Vendorfer, Hungary, prisoner in his native land.  Walter  was Johann's home teacher.  Lives Hungary, in about  a week if we get back.  Dandorfer overwhelmed with gratitude.  Gave his tithing.  Now I'm current with the Lord.  Now I am worthy to shake the hands of the servants of the Lord.    Crowsa served faithfully.  Never murmurred and never made excuses.  Prove them herewith.  abiding the law for the blessing.  Savior, no greater example exists.  Made perfect.  Author of eternal salvation.  Lived the perfect live.  Honoring the sacred mission he received.  Never haughty, never puffed up.  Refused deviate what he knew was right.  Gesemenenee, obedient.  Instructs us, follow thou me.  Are we willing to obey?  answers and blessings can be ours.   He that keepeth God's commandments receiveth truth and light until he receiveth all things.

Elder Holland's talk

03/24/2013

Learner Readiness
Objective: To help the listeners arrive on their own regarding message for them.

SAY: The First Great Commandment, By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"We have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love to the Lord."

Q: What is the first great commandment of the Lord?

READ Matthew 22:36-37

A - Mathew 22:36-38

 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

Q: How do you demonstrate your love for the Lord?

SAY:  To start his talk, EH talks of the early dsiciples that walked with the Savior on the earth.  At first reading one might not see some of the reasons why Elder Holland tells the story he tells.

- He talks of their inexperience walking with Lord for only three years being totally dependent upon the Lord.
- Not wanting to believe that the Savior would die and they would be left on their own.
- And then the unthinkable happened, the unbelievable was true, their Lord and Master was crucified.
- Witnessing Him in his resurrected state only added to their bewilderment.
- So, Peter and at least six of the remaining ten apostles go fishing.  Back to the same thing the Lord called them from three years earlier.

READ B

B - But, alas, the fishing wasn’t very good. Their first night back on the lake, they caught nothing—not a single fish. With the first rays of dawn, they disappointedly turned toward the shore, where they saw in the distance a figure who called out to them, “Children, have you caught anything?” Glumly these Apostles-turned-again-fishermen gave the answer no fisherman wants to give. “We have caught nothing,” they muttered, and to add insult to injury, they were being called “children."

Q:  Is the fishing good at those times in our lives when we have stopped doing God's work?

READ C

C - “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find,”the stranger calls out—and with those simple words, recognition begins to flood over them. Just three years earlier these very men had been fishing on this very sea. On that occasion too they had “toiled all the night, and [had] taken nothing, the scripture says. But a fellow Galilean on the shore had called out to them to let down their nets, and they drew “a great multitude of fishes,” enough that their nets broke, the catch filling two boats so heavily they had begun to sink.

Q: What is the message here?
Q:  Why is it human nature to fall back into our old ways?

    Q: What can we learn about doing our own will verses doing God's will?

         [Read about being connected to the true fine and how it bears fruit.]

SHOW HOLLAND 6:56 - 10:19 (3 min 24 sec)

After a joyful reunion with the resurrected Jesus, Peter had an exchange with the Savior that I consider the crucial turning point of the apostolic ministry generally and certainly for Peter personally, moving this great rock of a man to a majestic life of devoted service and leadership. Looking at their battered little boats, their frayed nets, and a stunning pile of 153 fish, Jesus said to His senior Apostle, “Peter, do you love me more than you love all this?” Peter said, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”10

The Savior responds to that reply but continues to look into the eyes of His disciple and says again, “Peter, do you love me?” Undoubtedly confused a bit by the repetition of the question, the great fisherman answers a second time, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”11

The Savior again gives a brief response, but with relentless scrutiny He asks for the third time, “Peter, do you love me?” By now surely Peter is feeling truly uncomfortable. Perhaps there is in his heart the memory of only a few days earlier when he had been asked another question three times and he had answered equally emphatically—but in the negative. Or perhaps he began to wonder if he misunderstood the Master Teacher’s question. Or perhaps he was searching his heart, seeking honest confirmation of the answer he had given so readily, almost automatically. Whatever his feelings, Peter said for the third time, “Lord, … thou knowest that I love thee.”12

STOP, ask questions
Q: How does listening to this make you feel?
Q: What might be the message of this non-scriptural elaboration to us?

SHOW HOLLAND 10:20 - 12:31 (1:41 sec)

To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

Q: What are your feeling when you listened to this
Q: What is EH's trying to tell us with his metaphore, our message not to be consigned to the ash heap of history?

Q: What is our message?  [a new life in Christ]

SHOW HOLLAND 13:19 - 15:00 (1:41 seconds)

My beloved brothers and sisters, I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgment Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter: “Did you love me?” I think He will want to know if in our very mortal, very inadequate, and sometimes childish grasp of things, did we at least understand one commandment, the first and greatest commandment of them all—“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.”13 And if at such a moment we can stammer out, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee,” then He may remind us that the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.

Q: How are loyalty and love connected?

Q: What does it mean to be loyal to Christ?

Q:  If we love the Lord why don't we stay steady, connected, as constantly progressing upward?

READ D:

D - “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it. It was this truth, this reality, that allowed a handful of Galilean fishermen-turned-again-Apostles without “a single synagogue or sword” to leave those nets a second time and go on to shape the history of the world in which we now live.

Q: Have we all have encounters with the living Son of the living God?

Q: Are there rewards in this life for devoted discipleship?

CONCLUSION

SHOW HOLLAND 18:30 - 20:00 (1.5 minutes)

To all within the sound of my voice, the voice of Christ comes ringing down through the halls of time, asking each one of us while there is time, “Do you love me?” And for every one of us, I answer with my honor and my soul, “Yea, Lord, we do love thee.” And having set our “hand to the plough,”17 we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and neighbor rules the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Brethren, may each of us look at our discipleship and make a personal assessment for ourselves.  Are we connected to the true vine?  Are we enjoying the companionship of the Holy Ghost?  Are we enduring to the end by keeping our hand to the plough?  We show our love for the Lord as we serve him to the end, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

January 2013 - HP Lesson

Missionary Work - Russell Nelson

Lesson Pattern


Missionary Work (R) [5 minutes]
Say: We have been taught many times about the aspects of missionary work [BOARD]
    Inspiring young and old to go on missions.
    Every member a missionary
   Actually going on a mission yourselves
I want to go a different direction in this lesson. But, before let's review what Elder Russell Nelson and President Monson has to say.

Do the review
Read [Elder Nelson]

A - The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come. A desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation.

President Monson:


B - We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service.

President Monson:


C - We continue to need many more senior couples. As your circumstances allow, as you are eligible for retirement, and as your health permits, I encourage you to make yourselves available for full-time missionary service. Both husband and wife will have a greater joy as they together serve our Father’s children.


Elder Nelson's lesson was geared toward non-members listening to general conference. He exhorts non members to listen to the missionaries. He gives a few stories about how God directed people to the missionaries. Elder Nelson than suggests that missionaries can help in many different areas of their lives and that they should ASK THE MISSIONARIES.

1. If you want to know more about your ancestors, ask the missionaries
2. If you want to return to the fold, ask the missionaries
3. If you want to know how conquer an addiction, ask the missionaries.
4. If you feel life is busy and frenetic, and have gnawing emptiness, without direction or purpose, ask the missionaries.
5. If you want to strengthen your family and marriage, ask the missionaries.
6. If you want to understand the Book of Mormon better, and gain a broader comprehension of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God, ask the missionaries, they can help you.
7. If you want to participate in helping the needy and providing relief to victims on disaster any where in the world, ask the missionaries.  They can help you.
8. If you want to more about life after death, about heaven, God's plan for you, the Lord, Jesus Christ, His Atonement and the Restoration of His church, ask the missionaries.  They can help you.

Say: What I noticed in listening and watching E. Nelson, is his enthusiasm for the work.  He is genuinely excited about church and the gospel.  I want to discuss what makes a member enthusiastic or excited about missionary work.  Or, better stated, what make some of us vibrant and excited about our lives in the gospel.  

Say :Although there are probably multiple answers to this question, I want focus particularly today on this enthusiasm and see where it leads us. [BOARD] [if E. does work for you, substitute a good, positive word that works for you]

Enthusiasm (R and I) [5 minutes]
Define E.  enthuziazm. [Gr. to infuse a divine spirit, inspired, divine; God.]
1. A belief of private revelation; the confidence or opinion of a person, that he has special divine communications from the Supreme Being, or familiar intercourse with him.

Say: As we read the following verses of scripture, be thinking about what they all might have in common.

Learner Readiness: Read:

2 Nephi 4:20 - 24

D - My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.  He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.  Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.  And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

Alma 24:14 

E - And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

Benjamin People Mosiah 5:2 

F - And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, 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.


Romans 1:16 

G - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 John 4:17 -18

H - Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Alma 27:27 

I - And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end. 

Knowing (I) [5 minutes]

Q: What are the common elements the verses we just read? [BOARD]

    [gratitude, testimony, conversion, personally knowing the gospel has changed your life]

Q: Why are they all bearing fervent testimony?  [Q: What do they know?]

         Knowing that it has worked for you. 

Q: What is this knowing called?
Testimony
Peace and rest, a change of heart, rebirth
A change occurred with in us that makes us happy

Letting Go - Grace (R+I+A) [10 minutes]

Q: If we have lost our excitement for the gospel, how does one regain it?
   [Stop sinning, repenting, be more believing]

Read Moroni 10: 32

J - Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Q: Why do we need God's grace in our lives?

Say: I propose that there are inward and outward commandments that we live as disciples of Christ.

Q: Give me a few outward commandments.

Q: What are the inward commandments that we sometimes disobey?
Using force (verbal or physical)
Being judgmental of others or ourselves
Reviling back (taking offence, getting defensive)
Being puffed up
Not easily entreated
Impatient
Intolerant
Selfishness (seeking not your own)


Say: At our age we will need the grace of God to keep any of the commandments that we aren't currently living.

Say: I submit to you that this is where my internal peace comes.

Hymn


Read Hymn, Lean on my Ample Arm.

1. Lean on my ample arm,
O thou depressed!
And I will bid the storm
Cease in thy breast.
Whate'er thy lot may be
On life's complaining sea,
If thou wilt come to me,
Thou shalt have rest.
If thou wilt come to me,
Thou shalt have rest.

2. Lift up thy tearful eyes,
Sad heart, to me;
I am the sacrifice
Offered for thee.
In me thy pain shall cease,
In me is thy release,
In me thou shalt have peace
Eternally.
In me thou shalt have peace
Eternally.

Letting go scripture

3- Knowing God is With You - Connectedness (A)
Say, I submit to you that being more connected to God brings a witness to your soul that the atonement is real.  You feel joy and are happy.  Worries and fears disappear.
2- Enthusiasm - We get it.  We want to to be part (A)
Read Alma 32:?
Q: When this feeling is part of you, will we not feel more enthusiastic about the gospel and the church?  Of course we will.
1- Missionary Work (A)
Say:  I submit to you that when we feel the happiness, the good news brings, and it becomes part of us through obedience to the inward as well as the outward commandments, that we want to do missionary work (as well as the other missions of church).
We want to inspire and have to ability to inspire our youth to go on missions
We will want to share the gospel with others.
We will want to serve mission ourselves
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

What is the underlying reason why some people are excited and E. about life, the gospel and the church?
Q: What makes one person E. and another not?
Q: How does E. relate to testimony?
Q: How does E. relate to faith, happiness and rest to our souls?
When we are E. everything in our life works out better.

Preparation for a mission is important. A mission is a voluntary act of service to God and humankind. Missionaries support that privilege with their personal savings. Parents, families, friends, and donors to the General Missionary Fund may also assist. All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people.



So where do I go from here?