Lesson Summary: March 17, 2013

TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH: LORENZO SNOW
CHAPTER 6: BECOMING PERFECT BEFORE THE LORD: “A LITTLE BETTER DAY BY DAY”

Taught by Caryl Shill
Quote Scramble:

"We all need to remember: men are that they might have joy—not guilt trips!"

"Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed."

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

"You have to create the quiet to be able to listen to the very faint voice of your intuition."
“Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed.

Occasionally, for well-motivated and highly devoted Latter-day Saints, confusion occurs about the differences between worthiness and perfection. Worthiness and perfection don’t mean the same thing! All of us are “works in process.” We can be worthy while still needing improvement.

- LORENZO SNOW

- Mia Hamm

- CECIL O. SAMUELSON

 -Russell M. Nelson

- Jon Favreau

- Nephi

As we move through the temple we also move up vertically. Baptism 1st step, in the basement.

None of us is perfect we are just doing the best we can.

We are commanded to become perfect.  We can step by step

Nephi's Courage CS #120

We are not perfect, but can perfect things:

Perfect at turning the light off when the last to leave the room.
Have focus areas to perfect.
It is through Jesus Christ that we can become perfect.
Keep humble, we all still make mistakes
3 Nephi 27:27 - ...Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

“It would not be amiss, perhaps, if I should tell you a little of my experience, when I commenced to talk in public, even before I was an Elder. I remember the first time I was called upon to bear my testimony.… It was something I very much dreaded, yet at the same time I felt that it was my duty to get up, but I waited, and waited. One bore testimony,another gave his testimony, then another, and they were nearly through,but I still dreaded to get up. I had never spoken before an audience. … I[finally] concluded it was about time for me to get up. I did so. Well, how long do you suppose I talked? I judge about half a minute—it couldn’t possibly have been more than a minute. That was my first effort; and the second, I think, was about the same. I was bashful, … but I made up my mind, solidly and firmly, that whenever I was called upon to perform a duty of this nature or of any other, I would do it no matter what might be the result. That is a part of the foundation of my success as an Elder in Israel.”
It can be hard to share something as personal and sacred as our testimonies, but in sharing it will grow.

You cannot measure yourself against anything in this world. Only God knows your full measure and only He can judge your efforts.

You have a sphere of control, but others have their own agency. Marriage takes two partners striving for perfection together.

"Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves.14"

Lesson Summary March 10, 2013

TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH: LORENZO SNOW

CHAPTER 5: THE GRAND DESTINY OF THE FAITHFUL
Taught by: Aimee Roylance

There are several things we inherit from our ancestors: physical traits, temperaments, money, talents.
We are each spirit daughters of God and can inherit all he has.
"We were born in the image of God our Father; he begat us like unto himself. There is the nature of deity in the composition of our spiritual organization;"
You are a Child of God:
act like it
treat others as such,
treat ourselves as such - a 4 year old doesn't look in the mirror and start criticizing their features.

“As man now is, God once was:
“As God now is, man may be.”1

Revelations 3:21- To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

How do we reach our grand destiny, or divine potential?
Rom 8:16-17 - The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Life is rough, but we don't have to suffer alone. Unfortunately sometimes we neglect to use the help the Lord has offered.

Hard to reach our potential
-It's hard as a mom to teach children to reach up to their potential, when you yourself feel inadequate.
-Our Patriarchal Blessing can lead us in the right direction and help us refine our course.

Elder Uckdorf related the story of a man who saved up enough money for a cruise. He packed a suitcase of food so that he could eat frugally on his voyage.  On the last day of the cruise he realized all the activities and food on the boat were included in his passage fee.
Your Potential, Your Privileges Video

There are sacrifices we make in order to achieve our potential:
- The glamour of the world is often contrary
- Sense of security, have to try something new

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Nelson Mandela

Often those times that try us most, require the most sacrifice become great blessing.

- Raising a child with intense special needs is exhausting and trying, but can bring marvelous blessings of wisdom, empathy and love.

"We do not all of us fully comprehend the blessings and privileges that are prepared in the gospel for us to receive. We do not fully comprehend and we do not have before our view the things which await us in the eternal worlds,"

D&C 78:17-18 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

Moroni 7:48 - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

"If we will stand firm upon the rock and will follow the Spirit that has been placed in our bosoms, we shall act right in the way of our duties, we shall act right to those who are placed over us, we shall act right whether in the light or in the dark....
"Let us never allow our prospects to become dimmed; let them be fresh before us by day and by night, and I will assure you that if we will do this our growth from day to day and from year to year will be marvelous.16"

Group order for Food Storage Eggs

- Bonnie is trying to get another group order for Emergency Supplies, see below:

Honeywell has whole powdered eggs in a 10# can for $17.72 if we can get an order for 6 or more.

Powdered eggs can be used as scrambled eggs. But I plan to use them in making pancakes or baked goods with my food storage to give variety.

Here is the link so you can see what would you be getting:
http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/powderedwholeeggscan.aspx?utm_source=mybuys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=product-alerts

Let me know if you are interested in purchasing a can or two. I am hoping to be able to get an order of 6 or more cans to get the $17.72 reduced price.

Bonnie Wathor

March 2013 Newsletter

Here is the March Newsletter in all it's glory.

Please note the corrected date for the April Activity should be April 18th not March 18th.

Lamb of God Performances on Temple Hill

The Temple Hill Choir and Orchestra are performing an Oratorio called “Lamb of God.” This dialogue and music is inspiring as it tells of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Shows begin March 24th.

For tickets,
http://lambofgodoakland.com/

Bring your friends, neighbors, and family to hear this powerful message.

Thanks for the tip Bonnie

Lesson Summary: February 24, 2013

Teachings for our Times:
Where Is the Pavilion?
BY PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING
First Counselor in the First Presidency
Taught by Talia Deccio

"The pavilion that seems to intercept divine aid does not cover God but occasionally covers us. God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are."


-Don't complicate faith, a child's faith is most pure
When Pres Eyring's granddaughter attended the Brigham City Temple open house with her family she asked “'Mommy, where is Jesus?' Her mother explained that she would not see Jesus in the temple,but she would be able to feel His influence in her heart. Eliza carefully considered her mother’s response and then seemed satisfied and said,'Oh, Jesus is gone helping someone,' she concluded."

President Eyring, in the early days of his career, had obtained a comfortable position with tenure and close to family. "But I was given by the Church the chance to leave California and go to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. My lifetime professional objectives might have been a pavilion dividing me from a loving Father who knew better than I did what my future could hold. But I was blessed to know that whatever success I had in my career and family life to that point was a gift from God. And so, like a child, I knelt in prayer to ask what I should do. I was able to hear a quiet voice in my mind that said, “It’s my school.” There was no pavilion shielding me from God. In faith and humility, I submitted my will to His and felt His care and closeness."
5 years later a promissing offer came and tempted him to go elsewhere, he even went to the first presidency for advice. "My wife... had a strong impression that we were not to leave Ricks College. I said, “That’s good enough for me.” But she insisted,wisely, that I must get my own revelation. And so I prayed again. This time I did receive direction, in the form of a voice in my mind that said,“I’ll let you stay at Ricks College a little longer.” My personal ambitions might have clouded my view of reality and made it hard for me to receive revelation."
President Eyring was needed still at Ricks college.

-We need to become as a child
Sometimes the answer aren't what you want
Pick up and move to a foreign land, way out of your comfort zone
Can be really, really hard to do and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost
Entitled to receive confirmation of revelations (spousal, prophetic), but we have to ask and be ready to do
Obtaining revelation is our own responsibility
-In the Lord's time
-Become more like Him

Matt 25:40- And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have  done it unto one of the  least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

-Fear God not man

Don't compare yourself to others

"If we serve with faith, humility, and a desire to do God’s will, I testify that the judgment bar of the great Jehovah will be pleasing. We will see our loving Father and His Son as They see us now—with perfect clarity and with perfect love."

Lesson Summary: February 17, 2013

Chapter 4: Strengthened by the Power of the Holy Ghost

Taught by: Barbara Neuenswander

“Make up your minds to live humbly and in such a way that you will always have the Spirit of the Lord to be your friend.”

In 1864 in a mission to the Hawaiian Islands, a boat he was on capsized.  When they found him "his body was stiff, and life apparently extinct."  The two other missionaries with him administered to him on the way to the shore.  They tried all known efforts to revive him.

“After working over him for some time, without any indications of returning life, the by-standers said that nothing more could be done for him. But we did not feel like giving him up, and still prayed and worked over him, with an assurance that the Lord would hear and answer our prayers.

“Finally we were impressed to place our mouth over his and make an effort to inflate his lungs, alternately blowing in and drawing out the air, imitating, as far as possible, the natural process of breathing. This we persevered in until we succeeded in inflating his lungs. After a little, we perceived very faint indications of returning life. A slight wink of the eye, which, until then, had been open and death-like, and a very faint rattle in the throat, were the first symptoms of returning vitality. These grew more and more distinct, until consciousness was fully restored.”

“We did not only what was customary in such cases, but also what the Spirit seemed to whisper to us.”²

The Holy Ghost can help us perform more than we are able, and can be our constant guide and companion.

Sometimes the spirit speaks to us through ideas.

Sometimes it's a uneasy feeling that something is not right.

The Holy Ghost won't give us the answers unless we've studied first, or studied it out in our hearts.

The Holy Ghost can bring us happiness and peace of mind.

Message from President Zollinger-

  Women bring unmatched gifts and talents into this world and are severely unappreciated.  God was not done with creation till woman was made.  The nurturing and caring of women makes sister missionaries very effective tools and makes us perfect for motherhood.   Your husbands need your loving and caring encouragement, often repeatedly.  Women make the world a friendlier place.