Receive the Holy Ghost

(Prior to beginning the lesson, follow through with last week’s goal/experience and encourage discussion about what they learned-this week should be about going to the temple)

Receiving the Holy Ghost

Let’s start by reviewing the basic, yet profound, characteristics of the Holy Ghost.  What do we know about him?

-He’s a third member of the God Head (D&C 130:22)

-He is a “personage of the spirit”

-He works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

-He helps us live righteously and receive the blessings of the Gospel

-He witnesses of the Father and the Son (2 Nephi 31:18)

-He reveals and teaches the truth of all things (Moroni 10:5)

-He is the only way you can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

-He will show unto you all things that you should do 2 Nephi 32:1–5

-He will guide you in your decisions

-He will protect you from spiritual and physical harm

-Through him, you can receive gifts of the spirit D&C 46:9–11

-He is the comforter John 14:26

-He can fill you with hope and perfect love Moroni 8:26; D&C 36:2

-Through His power, you are sanctified as you repent, receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, and remain true to your covenants (see Mosiah 5:1–6; 3 Nephi 27:20; Moses 6:64–68).

-He is the Holy Spirit of Promise (see Ephesians 1:13; D&C 132:7, 18–19, 26). In this capacity, He confirms that the priesthood ordinances you have received and the covenants you have made are acceptable to God. This approval depends on your continued faithfulness.

-Everyone can feel the Holy Ghost, but to have him as a constant companion and to receive the full blessings of the Holy Ghost one must be baptized and then confirmed members of the Church by the laying on of hands, by someone with proper authority. (The difference between the influence of the Holy Ghost/light of Christ and the GIFT of the Holy Ghost)

-“The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, 5:499). We were baptized by immersion in water for the remission of sins. We must also be baptized by and immersed in the Spirit of the Lord, “and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost” (2 Ne. 31:17).” (Bednar, That We)

My Favorite Analogy

The stop light! (Show a picture of a stop light)

Red: Stop! Don’t do that! Physical/spiritual danger, repent

Yellow: Be careful! Warnings of all kinds

Green: Go, do!  Testify, teach. Act!

No matter what analogies we use, no matter what blessings we focus on, the Holy Ghost is simply one GIANT blessing.  If we take advantage of this priceless gift our lives will only be better than they would have otherwise been.  And chances are, the lives of those around you will also be affected in a positive way.

 “The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).” (Bednar, Receive)

But the question remains: Once you are conferred a member of the Church and are given the Holy Ghost how exactly to you RECEIVE it?

That phrase at the end of the blessing demands, “RECEIVE the Holy Ghost”.  It doesn’t simply say, “The Holy Ghost is now yours” or “Enjoy the Holy Ghost”.  It doesn’t even say, “Utilize the Holy Ghost”.  Why does it say RECEIVE?

-It is a call to ACT

-It is recognition of the need for us to do our part

-It is a declaration that while we are entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, that he will always be near, but that he CAN NOT help us if we do not CHOOSE to accept him; if we do not INVITE him.

The Do’s and Don’ts

“If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. “ (Bednar, That We)

-As teens we often focus on what we CAN’T (or shouldn’t) do.  The Word of Wisdom.  The Law of Chastity.  The Sabbath Day. It probably seems like there are oodles and oodles of additional, compounding “restrictions”.  Lying, cheating, stealing, etc.  Some of them are not even temptations, while others are true struggles.  Gossiping, being selfish with our time/resources, coveting. Everyone is different when it comes to the focus of their struggles.  But we ALL STRUGGLE.  And, if you’re like me, we all need motivation to keep going, to keep trying!  

That’s when the light bulb went on for me!  While listening to Elder Bednar’s talks (Receive the Holy Ghost, and That we May Always Have His Spirit To Be With US) it finally hit me!  The ever important WHY!  Why do we do/not do all these things?  Is it to make us happy? Yup. Is it to help us stand out? Yeah.  Is it to make us better people? Yeah.  Is it to be obedient? Absolutely.  But the core reason we ACT in accordance to the things we have been taught is to be worthy of, to invite, and to embrace the Holy Ghost! “Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy Ghost in our lives.” (Bednar, Receive) The other reasons we behave as we do are all fine.  They are all good.  But those are mere consequences, positive as they may be, of obedience.  The true, most important purpose behind all these instructions from the Lord is to give us every tool he has to keep us and our homes filled with the Holy Ghost!  We can DO anything, we can BECOME anyone, we can SERVE everyone when we listen to and obey the Holy Ghost. Why do we follow the teachings of the Gospel?  So we can RECEIVE the Holy Ghost! Mind Blown!

Mosiah 3:19 (We will always be an enemy to God as natural men unless we have the Holy Ghost)

Now let’s focus on the DO’s.  These are the most important.  I’m of the opinion that if we submerge ourselves in the DO’s there won’t any time for the DON’Ts, and soon they aren’t even temptations (While I'm fully confident in this theory, don't for a minute think that I've perfected this.  I'm just as human as the next person).  So what shall we DO to RECEIVE the Holy Ghost?

“These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.” (Bednar, Receive)

PRACTICE!

-Seek first for a sincere desire (3 Nephi 19:6, 9), “Do we likewise remember to pray earnestly and consistently for that which we should most desire, even the Holy Ghost? Or do we become distracted by the cares of the world and the routine of daily living and take for granted or even neglect this most valuable of all gifts? Receiving the Holy Ghost starts with our sincere and constant desire for His companionship in our lives.” (Bednar, Receive)

-“We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us (see D&C 42:14).” (Bednar, Receive)

-Put yourselves in situations where you: serve, hear/play music, watch wholesome church videos etc., enjoy the outdoors, participate in various forms of art, etc.

-Thoughtfully act each day, focusing on how you treat other people and how you spend your time

-Strengthen appropriate relationships with family members and friends

-Seek virtuous thoughts, actions, and language

-Worship in your homes, at church and in the temple

-Follow the commandments

-Meaningful personal and family prayer

-Study/feast upon the words of Christ

-Diligent and exacting obedience

-Faithfulness and honoring of covenants (through virtue, humility, and service)

-Worthily partake of the sacrament each week

-Have a positive attitude

-Act when you think you’re being prompted

*How do we know if it’s a prompting from the Holy Ghost?  Practice.  Only GOOD things come from our Heavenly Father.  If we ever feel like we are prompted to do something but are unsure if we’re just fooling ourselves into thinking it’s a prompting or if it actually is one, act (so long as it’s a positive prompting, what’s it going to hurt)! You’ll find out from what happens next if you were prompted or not.  From those trial and error opportunities you’ll be able to learn what’s a prompting and what’s not.  Never hesitate to do something positive; something the Lord would be pleased you had done.  Whether it was a prompting, or an idea of your own making, you’ll be serving Him and can’t go wrong.  

“Praying, studying, gathering, worshipping, serving, and obeying are not isolated and independent items on a lengthy gospel checklist of things to do. Rather, each of these righteous practices is an important element in an overarching spiritual quest to fulfill the mandate to receive the Holy Ghost. The commandments from God we obey and the inspired counsel from Church leaders we follow principally focus upon obtaining the companionship of the Spirit. Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy Ghost in our lives.” (Bednar, receive)

“In February of 1847 the Prophet Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young in a dream or vision. President Young asked the Prophet if he had a message for the Brethren. The Prophet Joseph replied: “Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom” (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 41; emphasis added). Of all the truths the Prophet Joseph might have taught Brigham Young on that sacred occasion, he emphasized the importance of obtaining and keeping the Spirit of the Lord.” (Bednar, That We)

Several years after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young and shared this timeless counsel: “Tell the people to be humble and faithful and [be] sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach [you what] to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness, and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 98).

*As a mom I have learned that each person feels the spirit differently.  Some feel it best through music, others through service, silent reflection/prayer, personal study/reading, various art mediums, physical experiences outdoors (hiking and other athletic occassions) or simply by being outside.  Just as we all have a way we learn best scholastically, we all have ways we hear and recognize the spirit better than others. (Ensign Article)

“…the Holy Ghost often teaches our children in the ways they learn best. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the Spirit talks to us in our language and in ways we can understand. The Holy Ghost adapts His language to be understood by all, even little children. “Our Heavenly Father is always available to us. He adapts to our level of understanding. ‘If He comes to a little child, He will adapt himself to the language and capacity of a little child’ (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 3:392).” (Boyack, Helping Children)

“We also learned that people “hear” the Holy Ghost in a variety of ways. I was teaching a Sunday School lesson to relatively new converts, and I asked the question, “How do you feel the Spirit?” Their answers were very enlightening. One said, “I feel clarity in my thoughts.” Another said, “I have a warm feeling inside,” while another shared, “I feel a deep sense of peace.” A woman who had been a member for a few months said, “I feel prickles all over!” And several stated that they occasionally would “hear” a voice speaking to them or that new ideas would come to them.” (Boyack, Helping Children)

” As we gain experience with the Holy Ghost, we learn that the intensity with which we feel the Spirit’s influence is not always the same. Strong, dramatic spiritual impressions do not come to us frequently.” (Bednar, That We)

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: “In its more familiar forms, revelation or inspiration comes by means of words or thoughts communicated to the mind (see Enos 1:10; D&C 8:2–3), by sudden enlightenment (see D&C 6:14–15), by positive or negative feelings about proposed courses of action, or even by inspiring performances, as in the performing arts. … ‘Inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound.’”²

(If we have time to delve into scriptures and talk about analogies etc.)

The Liahona: A Type and Shadow for Our Day

1 Nephi 16:14-29 (How the Liahona worked) Small and simple things

1 Nephi 18:8-22 (Liahona failed until they repent and Nephi is in charge again) pride, wickedness, contention

Alma 37:38-46 (How the Liahona worked, comparison to the Holy Ghost)

Testimony
I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who never leaves us stranded.  I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the blessings of the Holy Ghost are eternally ours if we but desire them and invite him into our lives.  Our Father in Heaven is waiting to bless us and guide us back to Him.  He has given us our own individual Liahonas.  It's our turn to act; to reach out and embrace it. I know that if we do this, our lives will unfold in ways we could never imagine possible. We can become the kind of people our Heavenly Father knows we can become if we allow the Holy Ghost to show us how.  

Applicable Cop Stories:
-"What did you think was going to happen?"
-Prompting to approach the car from the passenger side

Active Shooter Training/Parenting (A.K.A Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth)

I've missed my calling as a Relief Society teacher in MBA ward.  I have enjoyed my other callings in subsequent wards but there's nothing quite like an hour long discussion with fabulous women!  Now, I'm not a teacher in our current ward but for some reason the powers that be decided I needed to teach RS this week.  Though nervous as ever, it's been cathartic having a real motivation to dig into a lesson again.

While these are just notes and aren't nearly what I hope the lesson will be this afternoon (I rely heavily on conversation and the knowledge of others.  I really know very little.) I figured I'd add them on this blog for good measure.  Maybe one day my kids will want to read something from their mother.  We all know how horrible I've become on my personal blog (what personal blog!?!)!

Active Shooter Training Parenting

As I learn more about myself I’ve discovered that I learn best, and teach best, when my mind if full of one liners.  I don’t have the best memory, so one line is about all get.  I’m going to share a few of mine with you today.  First, we’ll revisit the classics from my Sacrament Talk:

T.T.T.=Things Take Time

When things don’t go your way, don’t get frustrated, make the best of it!

Life is hard but (with the help of the Lord) we can do hard things!

Okay, so with these things in mind we’re going to talk about raising children.  Something that ironically, I know very little about when compared to the wisdom in this room.  This is why I’ll forego the title of teacher and instead delegate myself as the RS discussion leader today.  I expect you all to teach ME.  I want to know what you DO, what you DID and what you WISH you had done as a parent.

“The first duty pertaining to the training of the children of the Church belongs in the home.”

When I was a kid my parents, unbeknownst to me, had a procedure they went through every Sunday.  They called it “Damage Control”.  Who can guess what this was all about?  It was basically asking each of us kids what we learned.  They’d get our abbreviated lesson, see what our take home message was and make sure that it was in alignment with their understanding of the gospel.  They never wanted to assume that whoever taught us had covered everything.  And they wanted to make sure nothing got lost in translation.  

The lesson I learned from “Damage Control” is that while we are so lucky to have the ward as backup, the primary responsibility of teaching children doesn’t belong to the church, the schools, or the community.  It belongs to parents, period.

Let’s briefly talk about the roles of a mother and a father:

Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

(Family Proclamation)

On the board we'll come up with a list for both mothers and fathers.

Father:

“By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” (FP)

(Some examples might be:)

-Take care of physical needs so spiritual needs can be met

-Counsel and instruct

-Leave lasting impressions

-Always be there to listen and instill love and respect

Mother:

"Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." (FP)
(Some examples might be:)

-Teach children to be true and faithful

-Teach children to pray

-Give children good things to read/read to them

-Make sure they are cared for in every way

-Make certain they know they are loved and of immeasurable value to our Father in Heaven

Family Unity

“The importance of family unity—love and consideration for one another in the family—cannot be overemphasized. Spiritual solidarity in family relationships is the sure foundation upon which the Church and society itself will flourish. This fact is well known and appreciated by the adversary, and as never before, he is using every clever device, influence, and power within his control to undermine and destroy this eternal institution. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ applied in family relationships will thwart this devilish destructiveness.^6”

Active Shooter Training:

As a direct response to the Columbine shooting (12 students, 1 teacher died. Police procedure was to surround the building and negotiate because they believed time was on their side-they had never dealt with someone who simply wanted to kill as many people as they could.  They had cops begging to go in when the shooting was happening but ’protocol’ kept them out) there was a nation-wide change to protocol and training.  In the years since, the training going like this:

-First responders could be anyone, from any department-whoever is closest, could be just passing by.

-Depending on the situation, they wait for a second guy, or go in alone, but they will not be responding with their normal team. 

-They realize that they are putting themselves in harm’s way but realize that’s their job and would rather take a hit than see a civilian killed.  Instead of waiting, they run towards the shots

-They all train to be prepared in groups of 2-5 people. They learn to cover each other and kind of leap frog around, one man moving while the other covers them.  They move as fast as possible, working together.

-Even one cop using these techniques is far safer than a cop who doesn’t.  BUT using these techniques in a group exponentially increases their success and safety

-In training they spend all day running scenarios and with this new training they always win.  Even when they went against two trained SWAT guys with great plans of their own and better weapons (the SWAT guys' goal was to kill as many as they could and get away), they came out victorious.  They took a few hits, but nobody died…except the “bad guys”. 

So after telling this story, who can help me draw some parallels?

Key Parallels

Unity: The second you lose unity, things fall apart and people die.  This is no different than with our spiritual health in our families, wards, and communities.

First Responders: Sometimes, the first responders to our own emergencies aren’t part of the normal team we’re used to training with. (Margaret and my miscarriage)  Sometimes, the people who rise to the occasion and watch our back in crisis are older, younger, near, far, etc.

BASIC training: the skills we learn in our own active shooter training (in our homes, with our families) should be simple.  If we learn them and practice them, these skills will give our families the absolute best chance at a high success rate.  Using these basic skills, and unity, you can overwhelm  the enemy and stand victorious at the last day.  It will also enable us to be first responders to those around us.

Proactive: Like the tragedy at Columbine, we might experience tragedy in our lives if we are not proactive.  We don’t want to be waiting outside the building listening to gunfire.  We want to be prepared and willing to do what it takes to keep ourselves and those around us safe from the fiery darts of the adversary. 

No Safety Zone:  Just as the police have realized that they cannot keep themselves out of harm’s way and still have positive outcomes, we parents must do the same. None of us will make it out of this life without walking into a few of Satan’s ambushes.  Life has its challenges.  It’s our job to be prepared.
Success Rate: Since this training has begun it has been PROVEN successful.  Countless lives have been saved.  Similarly, training our families basic principles is a proven equation for success. 

That being said, let’s work together to create our own active shooter training!  I want to hear what you’ve done, what you’re doing, and what you wish you’d done in your families to prepare them for their spiritual ambushes.

-"K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple, Stupid"

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

1.       Example: The first tool in this tool box is unspoken, but among the most affective.  Our trainees need to know that their trainers are not only motivational speakers.  They need to know that they have been through the training and are actually using it effectively every day.  They need to see an example of what they are expected to do.  Otherwise, the training meeting isn’t even worth attending.

2.       Church: We need to teach our children the benefit of attending their church meetings as well as the importance of learning from one another.

3.       Need for ongoing nurturing of testimonies

4.       Teach them to Pray: Pray with them, let them see you pray

5.       Teach them to read good things: Scriptures, among lots of other things.  Keep scriptures out in the open where they are easily accessible and serve as a good reminder.

6.       FHE: build a solid foundation for citizenship and active church participation. Express love, bear testimony, learn gospel principles, have fun and experience wholesome recreation together, creative a sense of unity and solidarity.

7.       Teach virtue, chastity and morality: “We have confidence in the young and rising generation in the Church and plead with them not to follow the fashions and customs of the world, not to partake of a spirit of rebellion, not to forsake the paths of truth and virtue. We believe in their fundamental goodness and expect them to become pillars of righteousness and to carry on the work of the Church with increasing faith and effectiveness.^{31”(Manual)}

8.       Set clear expectations: Our young people are among the most blessed and favored of our Father’s children. They are the nobility of heaven, a choice and chosen generation who have a divine destiny. Their spirits have been reserved to come forth in this day when the gospel is on earth, and when the Lord needs valiant servants to carry on his great latter-day work.³²We must prepare [children] to be living witnesses of the truth and divinity of this great latter-day work, and particularly in the case of our sons, see that they are worthy and qualified to go on missions to preach the gospel to our Father’s other children.^33 (Manual)

9.       Help children prepare to have eternal families of their own: Are you training [your children] so that when they are married they will want to go to the house of the Lord? Are you teaching them so that they will want to receive the great endowment which the Lord has in store for them? Have you impressed upon them the fact that they can be sealed as husbands and wives and have bestowed upon them every gift and every blessing that pertains to the celestial kingdom?³⁴We must … so guide and lead [children] that they will choose proper companions and marry in the house of the Lord and thus become inheritors of all the great blessings of which we have been talking. (Manua)

10.    Other virtues and qualities we want them to have: integrity, hard work, etc.

-The things Joseph Fielding Smith talked about were seemingly simple

            -Telling stories of pioneers

            -Teaching scripture stories

            -Teaching them to pray

My Own Personal Thoughts:

            -Nothing else matters if our children don’t feel loved. “People may forget what you said or what you did but not how you made them feel”

“Never let a problem to be solved, become more important than a person to be loved.” (President Monson)

            -We need to teach our children to be optimistic (yet cautious), positive people with gratitude in their hearts. “It is what it is but it will become what you make of it” "Blessings brighten when you count them"

            -We need to relearn a skill from our childhood…how to be silly!  We need to let our kids be silly and make we share in humor as a family. “Pardon the mess my children are making memories”

            -Always be ready and willing to take the time to answer “why?”

Our children will have to be taught to discern between good and evil, otherwise in many respects they will not be able to understand why they are not permitted to indulge in practices that are common with their neighbors. Unless they are instructed in the doctrines of the Church, they will not, perhaps, understand why there is any harm in the Sunday concert, a Sunday theatre, picture show, ball game, or something of that kind, when their playmates, without restraint and with encouragement, indulge in these things forbidden of the Lord on his holy day. The parents are responsible for the proper teaching of their children, [and] the Lord will condemn the parents if their children grow up outside of the influence of the principles of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{8  (manual)}

-          Our children must also be taught to have faith.  Sometimes we don’t know WHY.  Sometimes, that just doesn’t matter.  We need to have faith that it’ll all work out for our good.

“Let your faith be bigger than your fears”

Parenthood is scary.  It's a big job.  But our Heavenly Father has loaned us these spirits because he knows we're up to the task.  I know that if we keep our focus on our families, build up our own testimonies as well as those of our children, and live the gospel the best we can, we will find success.  Remember, with the help of the Lord, we can do hard things!

The Immortality of the Soul

This lesson is, in my opinion, a particularly joyful one.  It does a fantastic job summarizing nearly all the most basic principles of the gospel while additionally instilling a greater hope and motivation for our future.  Reminders of what really matter are the backbone to this lesson.  Let me just give you the chapter headings...

-We lived as spirits before we came to earth, and our spirits will continue living after we die
-Our purpose here on earth is to prepare ourselves to live with our Heavenly Father
-During this life we should seek after those things that are of eternal worth
-Because of Jesus Christ, we will be resurrected
-Our knowledge of the immortality of the soul inspires, encourages and comforts us

Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?  How do we get there?  What a joyous blessing it is to have the answers to all these questions!

Where did we come from?
"Our belief is that we lived before we came here; that which is intelligence, that which is spirit, did not have its beginning in this life. We believe that we received a spiritual tabernacle before we came into this world. That spiritual body was sent to this world, and here it received a physical tabernacle, the body which we see." (Manual, page 69)

This doctrine and belief that we didn't begin our existence upon our mortal birth, or even upon conception, is of great significance.

What else does this doctrine lead us to believe? What else does this principle help clarify? (That we were male and female before we received our bodies, that we earned the right to come to earth, that we had an understanding of what we would be doing by coming to this mortal existence, that even though our bodies are of the earth, our spiritual tabernacle will always remain in tact etc.)
We know that our spiritual tabernacle "knows no death; it simply passes from this sphere of eternal life , and awaits there the purification of the physical tabernacle, until the time it will be reunited with this tabernacle, which will be glorified..." (page 69)
Additionally, with this knowledge our timeline of life changes.  Instead of thinking of our 60-100 years of life as all we've got, or even thinking of mortality and the hereafter as our existence, we know that our timeline is much greater.  Our eternity doesn't start after death and it doesn't start here.  It started long ago.
The moments of our earthly existence are but a fraction of our eternal timeline.
Doesn't this give you a different perspective on life?  For me, this knowledge of our true eternal existence sheds a completely different light on life.  It casts shadows on the trials of mortality that are far less severe and scary.

Why are we here?
We know who we are and we know that this life is part of our eternity, part of our journey to become like God.  But what express purpose are we here for?  What can we do here that can not be done without a body? (the key word here is 'do')
"This life was not given to us as a past time."(page 70)  We are not simply treading water or hanging out in the waiting room.  We are here to work, on ourselves, with other people.
"We are here to prepare ourselves and develop ourselves and qualify ourselves to be worthy to dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father." (70)  What my favorite professor deemed "The Sacred Purposes of Life" would likewise describe the reason for our mortal life.  We're here to:
1. Become like Christ
2. Build eternal relationships
3. Develop skills of mortality

To me, these tasks seem more than a little daunting.  But we can do it! 
"We believe that we are here because we kept our first estate and earned the privilege of coming to this earth. We believe that our very existence is a reward for our faithfulness before we came here, and that we are enjoying on earth the fruits of our efforts in the spirit world."  (page 70)
We are here BECAUSE we can do it.  We have already done hard things.  We've already proven ourselves once, now we just have to get to work!

Where are we going?
Why should we work so hard?  What are we working towards?
"Eternal life is to us the sum of pre-existence, present existence, and the continuation of life in immortality, holding out to us the power of endless progression and increase...What a happy people we should be with the knowledge we have that this probation is not to prepare us to die, but to live" (Page 71)
"Remember that it is the intelligence that you acquire that is eternal, the truth which you learn here and apply in your lives, the knowledge and experience you gain and profit by—these you will take with you when you go home." (page 72)


During this life we should seek after those things that are of eternal worth
What then, are we to DO in this life?
"The things that are eternal, the things that are “worth while,” are those eternal things that we reach out for, and prepare ourselves to receive, and lay hold of by the effort that we individually make." (page 71)
What does this quote bring to your mind?
When I read this quote three sayings came to mind:
1. Salvation not a cheap experience
2. Nothing worth having comes easily
3. You get what you pay for
Living is work.  Living well, making choices the Lord would have us make, is HARD work.  There are many, many things we should do/work on, and there are many things we should NOT do (so many that I'm not going to even attempt to list them).  Among those mentioned in this lesson are to learn:
-Not to seek the creature comforts
-Not to seek the honors of man
-Not to seek those things that selfishness puts into our souls
-Not to set ourselves up and prefer ourselves to our Father's other children
(selfishness, pride, and physical comfort)
-"Let us not be lulled to sleep, let us not be deceived by the abundance of good things of this world" (page 72)
-"We will be happier serving our fellows than we could possibly be in any other way" (page 73) (Service to others)
"The Lord cares more about our character than he does our comfort" Mom
"It is not so important how many valuables you may have, how much property you may possess, and how many of the honors of men you may acquire, and all those things that are so desirable in the world. The thing that God has given to you that is worth more than all the rest is the opportunity to obtain eternal life in the celestial kingdom and have as your companions, throughout the ages of eternity, sons and daughters, husbands and wives with whom you have associated here on earth." (page 73)

Because of Jesus Christ, we will be resurrected
When know where we are going BECAUSE of our Savior.  It was the path that He paved that allows us to overcome the grave as he did.
"Jesus Christ was a man without sin. By reason of His purity, His uprightness and His virtue, He was able to unlock the doors of the prison, to overcome death and the grave, and pioneer the way … unto that heaven where we expect to go." (page 74)
What do we know about our own resurrection?  Let's turn to Doctrine and Covenant 88.
-Verse 15 tells us that the soul of man in comprised both of the body and the spirit
-Verse 16 tells us that the redemption of that soul IS the resurrection
-Verse 17 tells us that it is the Lord that makes that redemption possible
-Verse 18 tells us that it is the very same bodies while living on the earth (not some other bodies) that will be resurrected and returned to our spirits
-Verses 29-31 tell us that our bodies will be redeemed to the degree of glory we have earned.
Verses 32 tells us that once we are resurrection we will go to that kingdom which we have earned and will receive (those who have not earned the Celestial kingdom would not receive/want to be there, they wouldn't feel comfortable even if they were permitted to be there)
"...the spirits that possess these tabernacles now will inhabit the same tabernacles after they have been cleansed and purified and immortalized." (page 74)
Again, I think it's important to reiterate that we will be the same people in our resurrected bodies that we are when we die.  Hence how imperative it is that we work hard NOW to become the people we WANT to become.
 How can we teach our children and those around us about the atonement and resurrection?
The knowledge of the resurrection is so crucial to our understanding of the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is "to prepare every man, woman and child for the time when all those who have died will be brought forth from their graves, and when our Heavenly Father will establish his kingdom upon this earth and the righteous will dwell there and Jesus Christ will be our King and our Law-giver." (page 74)
"Without that understanding it seems to me there would be little happiness for those who are living in mature years, waiting for the time when the spirit leaves the body to go they know not where." (page 75)
So much of our outlook on life/eternal perspective, and direction is guided by our purpose.  Without a knowledge of the resurrection one might find them far from that iron rod, lost in the fog.  How important it is to first gain our own testimony of the resurrection and then to teach those we love!

Our knowledge of the immortality of the soul inspires, encourages, and comforts us.
 How much of what we do is a result of our understanding of eternity?  If there was no life after death, what would you do differently?  Would you take the same care of your body?  Would you work as hard at your relationships?  Would you take the time to help build up yourself and others?
 "If, when our life's labor on was finished, we had no opportunity to go on developing, there would be little to inspire us to live as we should here.  The knowledge that all the good we accomplish here, and all the development we make, will enhance our happiness eternally, encourages us to do our best."
Luckily, the Lord loves us and has made certain we know His plan.  We know:
-He lives, has a body and created us in His image
-He is a personal God
-Our spirits are begotten by him
-He gave us the opportunity to come to Earth and receive a physical tabernacle so we can prepare to return to his presence and live eternally with him
-Jesus Christ was the manifestation of God in the flesh
-There will be a literally resurrection from the dead
 "these are the truths that are fundamental" (page 76) If we have a testimony of these things, we have our foundation to build our faith upon.

Knowing this, the hardest parts of this life become easier.  Death, for instance, becomes less of a tragedy and is instead realized as a step towards "increasing happiness and advantages that we cannot know in mortality." (page 76) We know that the "Lord has not left us without hope.  On the contrary he has given us every assurance of eternal happiness, if we will accept his advice and counsel while here in mortality." (page 77)  Whatever the current struggle we face, whether it's the death of a loved one, illness, or simple, everyday hardships of life, our eternal perspective allows us to see things a little clearer.

We are so extremely blessed to have endless resources in the gospel.  From our scriptures, to conference talks, to lds.org, we have been given more knowledge than one man could ever consume in this life.  If we have a desire for an understanding of His plan and for a hope of the future all we need to do is seek it out.  The understanding and testimony of these things (and more) will be given to us as we consciously make an effort to find them.  It is work, but an eternally rewarding kind of work.  Though progress and growth are hard, seemingly impossibly, I know it will be worth it. We will be blessed.

"If those who have passed on could speak to us, they would say, 'Press on, press on, for the goal that will bring us eternal happiness together.' Do the things the Lord would have you do, and you will not miss anything that is worth while; but on the contrary you will be continually laying up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot corrupt or thieves break through and steal [Matthew 6:19-20]" (page 77)

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching and that generally entails discomfort and pain…To exercise faith is to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing though you cannot understand how He can possible do it…” Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign – Nov. 1995

I absolutely know that "this is not an idle dream.  These are facts."  Jesus really is the Christ and he really did pave the way for the redeeming of our souls.  I know that even in our darkest moments there is hope to be found in Him and in his Plan of Happiness.  If we truly prepare, develop, and qualify ourselves, seeking after the things He would have us do, we will absolutely live with Him again.  It may not be easy, but it most certainly will be worth it.   


Link to Manual (Teachings of George Albert Smith)


Other "pithy sayings"/"one liners" that didn't make it into the lesson but I thought I'd share anyway:

"In the end, what matters most is how we spent our time and how we treated other people." My Dad
S.M.I.L.E Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal (2 Ne 9:39)
There's no time like the present! (our eternity is now)
T.T.T. Things Take Time
Life is hard but with the help of the Lord we can do hard things
When things done go as planned, don't get frustrated, make the best of it

My favorite "Joyful" phrased from this lesson:
"every assurance of eternal happiness" (page 77)
"increasing happiness and advantage that we cannot know in mortality" (page 76)
"endless progression and increase" (page 71)

March Treats

Carmellitos 

(Thanks Mom!)

2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups melted butter

1-2 cups chopped pecans (optional-I left them out this time)

1 1/2 cups caramel ice cream topping (I used more like 2 cups)

6 tablespoons flour

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine first 6 ingredients.  Press 1/2 of oat mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 min.  Remove rom oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top, then add nuts (if you want them).  Combine caramel topping with flour and pour on top of chocolate and nuts.  Sprinkle remaining 1/2 of oat mixture on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  ***Reduce to 325 degrees for glass baking dishes.

Peanut Butter Balls

(Thanks, Sis!)

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

4-6 cups powdered sugar (to taste/consistency you like)

4 cups chocolate chips

Melt/soften butter.  Mix butter and peanut butter.  Add powdered sugar a little bit at a time until you have the consistency you like (I prefer more fluffy than buttery, which equates to more powdered sugar-closer to 6 cups).  Roll peanut butter mixture into balls onto a foiled cookie sheet (balls can be whatever size you want).  Place cookie sheet in freezer for 15 minutes.  Melt chocolate chips on stove or microwave.  Take peanut butter balls and dip them in chocolate.  After all balls are covered in chocolate, place cookie sheet back in freezer/fridge until ready to serve.  

The Holy Priesthood--for the blessing of God's children

When you hear the word 'Priesthood', what words come to mind?  Do you think of it's origin?  Do you ponder its power?  Its purpose, or even validity? Take a second and let yourself ponder on the Priesthood...
(After allowing for a moment of thought, I'll have the sisters shout out a few words or phrases that came to their minds)
I read this lesson over again specifically looking for words describing or referring to the Priesthood.  Here is what I found:  

Holy

Serious
Obligation

Eternally important

Blessing/Bless (the children of men)

Important

Great Honor

Opportunity

Service

Uplift

Develop

Divine power

Divine authority

Humble/humility

Responsibility

Administer (the ordinances of the Gospel)

Authority to speak in His name

Right to preach/teach the Gospel

Officiate

Servants of the Lord

Calling, ordaining, and setting apart for the work

Conferred upon men

Essential 

Qualify (men to teach and officiate)

Priceless

Opens the doors of the Celestial Kingdom

Partners with the Master of Heaven and Earth

Consciousness ("that I am my brother's keeper)

Example

Worthy 

Sacred trust

Power of God

Do any of these words/phrases stand out/have a greater impact on you?  Why?

Before we move on, let's define the Holy (Melchizedek) Priesthood.  The Holy Melchizedek Priesthood is the power of God delegated to man to act in His name (Manual, page 51). 

******************

From the life of George Albert Smith we gather that he clearly and reverently understood the great importance, necessity and privilege of the Priesthood.  

 (I will have someone read these two stories)

 (Story #1)

“I wonder sometimes if as fathers we take pains to explain to our boys the seriousness of the obligation assumed when a boy becomes a deacon. I wonder if when the boy is ordained a deacon the father lets him feel that he has something now that is eternally important. …

“I remember, as if it were yesterday, when John Tingey placed his hands on my head and ordained me a deacon. I had the matter so presented to me and the importance of it, that I felt it was a great honor. The re sult was, it was a blessing to me, and then after awhile other ordinations came to me. But in each case the foundation was laid in my mind that here was an opportunity for another blessing.”¹

(Story #2)

“Rodney Badger was a teacher in my father’s home for years, and a great man. Whenever he came the family met and he sat and asked us questions and told us the things that he thought we ought to understand. And I want to tell you that when he came into our home he brought the spirit of the Lord with him. And when he went out we felt we had had a visit from a servant of the Lord.”²

^{First, I must pose the question, IS it important for men and women to learn about the priesthood?  (Yes!) Why?  (To understand the impact it has in our lives, to understand how it is we can attain eternal life, to develop our testimonies, to teach our children, to bless the lives of others, etc.) As mothers, what can WE do to help our sons and daughters understand how eternally important the Priesthood truly is?  (Teach them historical background, both ancient and latter-day.  Share personal stories where the Priesthood power healed, protected, etc. Be an example/point out examples.  Talk about both the obvious and not so obvious blessings of the Priesthood seen in the lives of those around you.  Be sure to define the Priesthood properly.  Place pictures and other tangible items in your home depicting the Priesthood power and the importance of it. i.e. picture of your Priesthood lineage all the way back to Christ). How can we help the young men prepare to be ordained to priesthood offices? (Teach both verbally and by example.  Make sure you USE the Priesthood-blessings etc.-and let them see you use it.  Bear testimony of it.  Read about it. etc.)}

^{Jesus Christ restored divine authority to the earth during His mortal ministry.}

To understand the importance of the Priesthood we must first understand where it came from, right?

"When the Savior came in the meridian of time, He found that great city of Jerusalem teeming with evil. The inhabitants were living in such a way that they had lost divine authority, so [God] sent His Son into the world and began again a Church possessing divine power. … There were those in His line who were good people, … and there were others who were still officiating in the Priesthood, but it was necessary for the Savior to come to restore divine authority. …

… When He began His ministry, He did not call to His aid the kings and rulers and priests and those who were high in authority, but He called the humble fishermen, and the result was that He gathered around Him men who could be taught, and not men who would not believe Him. He organized a Church under the direction of our Heavenly Father. He conferred divine authority upon His associates and directed them as to what they should do. … He had divine authority, and the righteous ones recognized Him to be the Son of God. Some think Him only to be a good man. We believe He came upon the earth not alone to teach the people what to do, but to confer on His associates divine authority to administer the ordinances of His Church. …

In the days of the Savior, He was the presiding authority. Next to Him came a quorum of twelve men, chosen by Him. When He passed away, the Quorum of Twelve, not a number of ordinary men who called themselves disciples, but a quorum of twelve men who possessed divine authority and had received it from Jesus Christ, became the leadership of the Church." (Manual, page 47)


^{Why was it "necessary for the Savior to ... restore divine authority" during His earthly ministry, in addition to teaching the gospel? (my thought was because there were righteous people who wanted/needed/deserved it, so he could give people the chance to grow, so he could hold people accountable, and because it fit the timeline/they were foreordained)}

We know that the Priesthood was once again removed from the earth as people got more and more wicked.  At what point did we receive the blessing of the Priesthood?  How?  By whom?  

"When Joseph Smith was a young man the Lord directed him to translate the Book of Mormon. On one occasion when Joseph and Oliver Cowdery were translating, the Lord sent a holy being to answer their questions about baptism. Who was he that came? John the Baptist, who held the Aaronic Priesthood. Where did he come from? He came from heaven. … He appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as a glorious resurrected being. He came directed by our Heavenly Father to confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver, for it was not to be found any place in all the world. It was necessary that the heavens open and a man who had held the Priesthood, and still held it, should come and confer it.

Following that, Peter, James and John, who held the Melchizedek Priesthood, conferred that Priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver, and the Lord directed the organization of the Church, with a Presidency, consisting of a president and two counselors; also a Quorum of Twelve Apostles, a Patriarch, High Priests, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons; the same kind of an organization that existed in the primitive church, as far as authority was concerned.  (Manual, page 48)

Since the Restoration, "the Gospel and the Priesthood have been made available to all who qualify" to receive it.  Why do you think the Lord makes His authority available to all worthy men instead o restricting it to a few men with formal training? (to allow all men the chance to grow, to prevent corruption, to bless more people)

The power and authority of God can be found only in His true Church.

(I will either read an excerpt from this, or have someone else do it)

"I have had men ask me: “Of what benefit is your church more than some other church?” I have tried, in a tactful way, to explain to them the difference. Any organization may band together for worship, but that does not give them divine authority. Any group of churches may mass together and organize community churches. That does not confer divine authority. Men may unite for good purposes, but authority from our Heavenly Father is only obtained in his way, and his way in former days was by calling and ordaining men and setting them apart for the work. The same thing is true in our day. …

People should be made to understand that just to bow before the Lord in prayer does not give them divine authority. To live up to the requirements that are made of honesty, virtue, truth, etc., does not give them divine authority. … It is not sufficient that we pray, that we attend church. It is necessary that we possess divine authority, and it is the claim that we possess that authority that has brought upon this Church much of the persecution that has followed it from the beginning. But it is the truth and many of our Father’s children are beginning to observe the effect of divine authority in this Church. They see the development that is made in the lives of men and women." (Manual, page 50)

What do you make of that last sentence ("they see the development that is made in the lives of men and women")?  (I would think 'development' refers to the development of character/values-both in families and in individuals, testimony and a general understanding of God.)  What can we do personally to nurture the power and influence of the priesthood in our lives? (same as nurturing it in our children, I would think)  How would you respond if someone asked you "Of what benefit is your church more than some other church?"

I think it can be hard to answer such questions without (unintentional) offending someone.  We often fear responding for this reason but President Smith said it well when he said,

"I personally do not desire to be understood to be finding fault and criticizing the people who belong to the various denominations of the world. I am thankful that there are in so many of them good men and good women who believe in him and with the light that they have serve God; but the fact remains that our Father has established in this world, his Church. He has conferred upon men in this day his authority, and there is no other authority in the world that he will recognize but that which he himself has instituted."

Priesthood ordinances are essential for us to enter the Celestial Kingdom

One of the reasons the priesthood is so priceless is the sheer fact that we can not enter the Celestial kingdom without it.  Every good person, doing good things, is blessed.  But regardless of how virtuous we are, without the priesthood, we cannot attain that degree of glory we are all striving for.  

What would happen if we were denied this blessing of the priesthood?  What would our lives be like? 

"It would mean that there had been closed to us the doors of the celestial kingdom. It would mean that the crowning blessing toward which I have been taught to look since I was a child would not be realized. … The companionship of my loved ones, … who are dear to me almost as life itself, could not be enjoyed in the celestial kingdom."

What are some of the "priceless blessings" you have received because of the priesthood?  Or, oppositely, what blessings do you feel you missed out on because you didn't/don't have the priesthood in your home? (Mom's story of growing up with a dad who wasn't a member vs. her sisters who grew up with a dad who was) I think of the blessings I received, the examples I saw, and the strong, righteous leadership both in my home and in the ward I grew up in. 

Priesthood holders have a responsibility to live exemplary lives and use the priesthood to bless others.

The priesthood is an endlessly powerful blessing and it comes with many responsibilities.   

"You cannot go out into the world in any other Church or in all other Churches and find … men holding divine authority. Do not forget that. You belong to a choice body of men, … having had hands laid upon them, and receiving divine authority, making you partners with the Master of Heaven and Earth. I do not mean that you can’t laugh, smile, and enjoy life, but I do mean that there should be deep in every soul a consciousness that “I am my brother’s keeper. I hold authority from the Lord Jesus Christ—I am a bearer of the Holy Priesthood.” If we will do this we will not be found trifling with sacred things as some have done in the past.^" (Manual page 52)

This makes me think of the phrase "with great power, comes great responsibility." What power on this earth is greater than the priesthood? (I'd say none) Those that hold the priesthood certainly have the responsibility to bless the lives of others and to be an example of the Savior, for their job is to act in His stead.  It is not their job to lord over anyone, but to be humble teachers and leaders. "The authority of our Heavenly Father is upon the earth for the blessing of mankind, not to make those who receive that authority arrogant, but to make them humble; not to make those who have received special privileges feel that they are greater than others, but to make us humble in our souls, prayerful in our hearts, and considerate of all men in all that we do, and thus exemplify by upright lives that which our Heavenly Father desires us to teach."(Manual page 53)  The power of these priesthood holders comes when they live worthily of that sacred trust and divine authority.  As mothers, spouses, sisters, etc. how can we help the men understand both the responsibilities of the priesthood, and the blessings of the priesthood?  (study together, express a need for the priesthood, recognize and show gratitude for the blessings that result from the priesthood in your home/life, show a sincere respect for the priesthood both in word and deed) How can we help them stay worthy of their priesthood? (never put them in a position that would compromise their integrity etc., hold them to a high standard, hold yourself to a high standard, etc., point out the blessing you receive from staying worthy, etc.)

The take home message from this lesson, I think, is simply a reminder of the power of the priesthood and it's sacred origin, purpose, and requirements.   In homes where membership in the gospel spans generations, the priesthood often becomes common place.  What can we do to help our families keep a fresh perspective on the priesthood and keep it the sacred blessing that it truly is?  (One of the ideas that comes to mind is to learn about and teach your children what the responsibilities of the priesthood are.  And then, of course, make sure you do/participate in them.)

"Wherever you go, keep in mind the fact that you represent him who is the author of our being. The priesthood that you hold is not the priesthood of Joseph Smith, or Brigham Young, or any other men who have been called to leadership of the Church at home or abroad. The priesthood that you hold is the power of God, conferred upon you from on high. Holy beings had to be sent to earth … in order to restore that glorious blessing that had been lost to the earth for hundreds of years. Surely we ought to be grateful for our blessings.²³

I pray that the Lord will bless us all, that we will be worthy to bear the priesthood that He has offered to us and conferred upon us, that wherever we go people will be able to say, “That man is a servant of the Lord." (page 53)

I absolutely know that the power of the priesthood is endless, that the Lord gave us the priesthood to bless us, and that the priesthood unlocks the keys to the celestial kingdom.  It is my prayer that we continually ponder the blessings of the priesthood, that we choose to utilize them in our homes, and that we strive to help the priesthood holders around us prepare for and remain worthy of the privilege and responsibility of bearing the priesthood.