Lesson Summaries

Home – The Basis of A Righteous Life

Taught by Sharon Thompson

Family relationships are sacred. 

·         We have a responsibility to those children we have been given, to nurture them, care for them and teach them values.  President Hinckley said, “It is imperative that you not neglect your families.  Nothing you have is more precious.”

·         Teaching with love is always best.  After disciplining, show extra love.

·         Pray for your children.  They need all the strength you can give them.

·         Family Home Evening can draw parents and children together. 

President Hinckley also said, “I speak to fathers and mothers everywhere with a plea to put harshness behind us, to bridle our anger, to lower our voices, and to deal with mercy and love and respect one toward another in our homes.²³

It was said of old that “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” (Prov. 15:1.) We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention. … The voice of heaven is a still small voice.” President Hinckley was a great example to us.

Thank you Sister Sharon Thompson.  You presented this lesson perfectly.  Thanks for sharing your personal stories also.  

Presidency lesson:  The New Relief Society Purpose/The Living Christ Document

Taught by Ila White


 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/05/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles?lang=eng

Chapter 8:  We Look to Christ
Taught by Sharon Thompson

President Hinckley was once asked the question, “Why doesn’t the LDS religion use the symbol of the cross?”  He responded, “We believe the cross is a symbol of the dying Christ.  We worship the living Christ.  Our lives are our symbol.”

Important points from the lesson include:

·         Jesus Christ is the son of a living God.  He is the chief cornerstone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which bears his name.

·         The Savior took upon him the burdens from Adam down to all mankind.  When he was crucified he said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”  He loves everyone!  

Three days later he was resurrected.  He appeared to many people as the resurrected Christ.

Do You Actually Believe It?

·         How can we know that Christ is our Savior? 

             o   Read the word of God

 o   Serve

 o   Pray

The things of God are understood by the Spirit of God.  We know because we feel it.  We can make Christ a part of our lives by learning about him and following his example.

Thank you Sister Sharon Thompson for bringing the Spirit into this lesson.  Our cups were refilled.

Joy and Spiritual Survival

By President Russell M. Nelson

President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Taught by Sister Kay Anderson
March 26, 2017

When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. 

Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind. Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy?

Yes! The answer is a resounding yes! But how is that possible? And what must we do to claim the joy that Heavenly Father has in store for us?

We can diligently focus on the Savior and then follow His pattern of focusing on joy; we need to avoid those things that can interrupt our joy.  If we look to the world and follow its formulas for happiness,²⁷ we will never know joy. The unrighteous may experience any number of emotions and sensations, but they will never experience joy!²⁸ Joy is a gift for the faithful.²⁹ It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ.³⁰

Every time we nurture our spouse and guide our children, every time we forgive someone or ask for forgiveness, we can feel joy.  Every day that you and I choose to live celestial laws, every day that we keep our covenants and help others to do the same, joy will be ours.

Jesus Christ taught us how to have joy. When we choose Heavenly Father to be our God³¹ and when we can feel the Savior’s Atonement working in our lives, we will be filled with joy.³²

Thank you Sister Kay Anderson and to everyone else who participated in the lesson.  We definitely had our cups refilled.

Ward Conference 3/19/2017

Taught by the stake Relief Society

Visiting  Teaching:  Taught by Heather Julander
Visiting Teaching is a calling from the Lord.  When we are doing our visiting teaching, we are following in Christ’s footsteps.  Both the visiting teacher and the sister being visited learn. 

Enrichment Night/Other Meetings:  Taught by Julie Johnson
When we go to these meetings, we are being strengthened in a less intimidating setting.  We learn things to help us improve temporally as well as spiritually.  Relief Society needs you, and you need Relief Society.

Compassionate Service and Welfare: Taught by Carol Baugh
How do we know who we can be of help to?  Pray for angels to assist you, watch, listen, and continue to pray.  Live righteously so we will be able to receive promptings.  There are also many welfare service opportunities around. 

Spiritually prepared to find that one: Taught by Donene Jones

Alma 31: 34, 35 says “34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.”

·         How can we be better spiritually prepared? 
We can say our morning prayers; ask for the Holy Ghost to be with us throughout our day.

·         We can try to emulate the Savior in our daily lives.

Thank you to our stake leaders for these thoughts.  There was a sweet spirit there Sunday; we appreciate you and love you.

Chapter 5: Daughters of God

Taught by Sharon Thompson

President Hinckley loved his wife, Marjorie, and praised her often.  He likewise loved and expressed appreciation for the abilities and contributions of all women. He expressed his strong witness of the importance of women in God’s eternal plan. 

Sister Thompson asked three sisters to tell about a woman from the scriptures that had influenced them.  The first one was Sister Theresa Morris.  She told about Queen Esther from the Old Testament.  Queen Esther helped save her people by going to the king, risking her life, on behalf of her people.  Sister Morris said, "The Lord can work great things through simple people."

Sister Janie Stewart was next.  She told about Mary and Martha from the New Testament.  The lesson learned from this story is that we need to make time for doing the things the Lord wants us to do.  The Lord is here to help us.

Sister Thompson told about Lehi's wife, Sariah.  She did hard things leaving her house and taking her family into the wilderness.  We can do hard things too!!! 

Emma Smith was a great example of what women can do.  In the first Relief Society meeting she said something similar to:  ordinary women can accomplish extra-ordinary things!  

Thank you Sister Sharon for a very touching lesson.  

To read the entire lesson, click on this link:  https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-gordon-b-hinckley/chapter-5-daughters-of-god?lang=eng 

Faith

Taught by Shay Bair

Based on Elder Neil L. Andersen’s talk, Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice

What is faith?  Answers included trusting in the Savior and believing without seeing.

Elder Neil L. Andersen made the following statements:

·         Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it.

• ·         Your faith is either growing stronger or becoming weaker.
• ·         Faith is a principle of power, important not only in this life but also in our progression beyond the veil. 
• ·         By the grace of Christ, we will one day be saved through faith on His name.
• ·         The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice.
•       When do we need faith?  During hardships, raising children, losing a loved one, ALWAYS!
•      How do we gain faith?  Prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, unselfishness, and giving up our own self-doubt.

Thank you to everyone for sharing times in your lives when you’ve needed faith.  Thank you to Sister Shay Bair for teaching us this fabulous lesson!

Emissaries for the Church by Elder Holland
Most of us are visiting teachers. As we go visiting, be observant. The sister being visited may say she is fine and doesn't need anything, yet she may.  

There are many ways to do visiting teaching. The best way is an in home visit. If that isn't possible, phone calls, text messaging, or using social media to check on sisters works also.  

In the January Ensign five tips were given to help with visiting teaching. They are: keep a visiting teaching journal, pray often for the families and individuals you teach, look for opportunities to serve, be creative, be available to be blessed by your visiting teachers.

Thank you Sister Kay Anderson for making us feel enthusiastic about watching out for the sisters assigned to us. Thank you for your own personal stories of how you have been blessed by different visiting teachers.

Chapter 3: Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism

President Hinckley was an optimist.  He is remembered for many uplifting quotes.  One of his most repeated quotes is: “Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.”

Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley: There is a terrible ailment of pessimism in the land. It’s almost endemic. We’re constantly fed a steady and sour diet of character assassination, faultfinding, evil speaking of one another.  Instead of that:  cultivate an attitude of happiness, cultivate a spirit of optimism, and cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessing of life.  We live in the fullness of times.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us a reason for gladness.  Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. 

President Hinckley said, “I meet so many people who constantly complain about the burden of their responsibilities. Of course the pressures are great. There is much, too much, to do. There are financial burdens to add to all of these pressures, and with all of this we are prone to complain, frequently at home, often in public. Turn your thinking around.”  Be happy. 

We have the Gospel in our lives.  This is the work of the Almighty. Whether we as individuals go forward will depend on us. But the Church will never fail to move forward. …

There is also in our society a sad tendency among many of us to belittle ourselves. Other persons may appear to us to be sure of themselves, but the fact is that most of us have some feelings of inferiority.  You are a child of God.  Believe in yourself!

Remember:  You can choose to be gloomy or happy.  Smiling is infectious!

Thank you Sister Kathleen Burt for the uplifting lesson.

Click here to read the entire lesson. 

  https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-gordon-b-hinckley/chapter-3-cultivating-an-attitude-of-happiness-and-a-spirit-of-optimism?lang=eng 

The Lord’s Hand in Our Lives
Taught by Katie Christensen
February 5, 2017

There are many examples in the scriptures of the Lord’s hand in our lives.  One example is when Zacharias was told he and his wife would be having a child in their old age.  From that story we learned that with God nothing is impossible, God lives, and we need to trust him.

How have we witnessed the Lord’s hand in our lives?  Several personal stories were shared.  Thanks to everyone who shared.  We learn so much from each other.  Sister Christensen said “We don’t have to be ‘better than’ to do what Heavenly Father needs us to do.”  Quite often when we look back on our lives is when we realize how much the Lord was there. 

Journal keeping is a great way to preserve these experiences and will help others when they read it. 

Challenge:  Ponder at the end of each day what the Lord did for you, or if you were his hands that day and write it down.

We thank you Sister Katie Christensen for this great lesson.  

Teaching for Our Times Lesson from January 29, 2017
Taught by Marilee Jones

The Master Healer

By Carole M. Stephens

First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

You don’t have to experience the sorrow caused by sin, the pain caused by others’ actions, or the painful realities of mortality—alone.  

^{This lesson had three main parts:}

^{First, the Savior, the Master Healer, has the power to change our hearts and give us permanent relief from the sorrow caused by our own sin.} When we come to Him with humble and teachable hearts—even if our hearts are heavy with mistakes, sins, and transgressions—He can change us, “for he is mighty to save.”

Second, the Master Healer can comfort and strengthen us when we experience pain because of the unrighteous actions of others. Elder Richard G. Scott counseled: “If you are free [from] serious sin yourself, don’t suffer needlessly the consequences of another’s sins. … You can feel compassion. … Yet you should not take upon yourself a feeling of responsibility. … When you have done what is reasonable to help one you love, lay the burden at the feet of the Savior.  

^{Third, the Master Healer can comfort and sustain us as we experience painful “realities of mortality,”13 such as disaster, mental illness, disease, chronic pain, and death.} 

The Savior pleads:

“Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

“… If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come … will I receive.”¹⁶

“[He] would do anything to take this from you.” In fact, “[He] already has.” 

 

To read the entire talk, click here:  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/11/general-womens-session/the-master-healer?lang=eng

^{Thank you Sister Jones for a fabulous lesson and a very touching story about the sheep.}