RS Lesson 1/24/21 - There Was Bread

 RS Lesson - There Was Bread by Bishop W. Christopher Wadell

 

Perspective by Cynthia Stevenson, North Relief Society

 

When the pandemic hit last year, I was fortunate to say, of my home, that there was bread (and a little toilet paper--however, I didn’t think of preparing in that way). 

It all started with one simple act of faith…many years ago: 

The purchase of the starter kit (which they may or may not sell anymore).

Over the I have come to know for myself that "True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to action.” and "gradual buildup of food storage and savings over time, as well as embracing “small and simple” means, which is a demonstration of faith that the Lord will magnify our small but consistent efforts…and finally “believing that through the grace, or enabling power, of Jesus Christ and our own effort, we are able to obtain all the spiritual and temporal necessities of life we require for ourselves and our families.”

In the talk by Bishop Christopher Waddell, he speaks of calamities and offers the promise that "the Lord’s guidance will provide protection and support to the extent that we heed and act upon His counsel." 

This counsel to be prepared is a spiritual commandment, "understand that all things are spiritual to the Lord, “and not at any time” has He given us “a law which was temporal.” Everything, then, points to Jesus Christ as the foundation upon which we must build even our temporal preparedness."

As he mentioned the importance of building a reserve, though to do so in wisdom and order, not running faster than we have strength. To quote him "In today’s environment, with a pandemic that has devastated whole economies as well as individual lives, it would be inconsistent with a compassionate Savior to ignore the reality that many are struggling and ask them to begin building a reserve of food and money for the future. However, that does not mean that we should permanently ignore principles of preparation—only that these principles should be applied “in wisdom and order” so that in the future we might say, as did Joseph in Egypt, “There was bread."

The Lord does not expect us to do more than we can do, but He does expect us to do what we can do, when we can do it. As President Nelson reminded us in our last general conference, “The Lord loves effort.”

We do this one small and simple step at a time. In Alma 37:34, Alma says to his son, Helaman "Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls."

This leads to an important question: “Therefore, what?”

It's important to remember the resources that exist. Personal Finances for Self-Reliance is on the Church website and it begins with a message from the first presidency, “The Lord has declared, It is my purpose to provide for my saints”...We invite you to diligently study and apply these principles.” When we qualify to receive temporal blessing, those blessings give us the power and ability to help and serve others more fully. This resource includes chapters devoted to creating and living within a budget, protecting ourselves and family from hardship, investing for the future, managing a financial crisis, etc., and it’s available to everyone on the Church website or through local leaders and is available in 36 languages.  “He knows you and is ready to extend to you the spiritual and temporal blessings of self-reliance.”  If we exercise our faith to take a small step to prepare in whatever capacity we are called upon to do through the Spirit, we can be certain that the Lord will be there for us. His love is there for us. Truly President Nelson spoke right that in the coming days we will not be able to survive without the continuing flow of personal revelation. And to close with Bishop Waddell’s words, “as we seek to become temporally prepared, we can face the trials of life with increased confidence, peace in our hearts, and like Joseph in Egypt, we will be able to say, even in stressful circumstances, “There was bread.” In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

RS Lesson 9/27/2020 - A Perfect Brightness of Hope

RS Lesson - Two Perspectives

A Perfect Brightness of Hope by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

 

Cynthia Stevenson - North Relief Society 

Elder Holland starts off his April 2020 talk, A Perfect Brightness of Hope, by quoting President Nelson, “Last October, President Russell M. Nelson invited us to look ahead to this April 2020 conference…” How are we looking ahead to October’s 2020 General Conference? 

 

The second part of that quote included the rest of the invitation, “by looking back to see the majesty of God’s hand in restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ.” If we were to apply that to ourselves personally, we might tweak the question to say, “How can we look ahead to October’s 2020 General Conference by looking back to see the majesty of God’s hand in our own restoration and in our own lives?” 

 

Questions are a great way to connect with God. “Ask and ye shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened unto you”(D&C 4). The kinds of questions we ask and the way we ask them are important. Honest seeking is something that I have learned that God smiles upon. 

 

In imagining an 1800 setting, Elder Holland asks, “What’s missing here?” We could also ask that and many other questions:  What’s missing in my life?   What should I ask God for?  What actions do I need to change? How can I make a positive difference in my life or the life of someone else? 

 

And a final question we can ask ourselves, “What do we hope God will provide in response to our spiritual longing?”  This is just the first paragraph of that talk.

 

I am asking those questions and seeing great changes in my life. I have a bit of social anxiety. I have felt God’s hand in my life as I ask Him those same questions. I’ve felt him deliver up guidance on a silver platter as I ask for it. For example, this week, I personally asked what I could do to be ready for the next General Conference. My answer: delete my Facebook and Instagram apps (not my accounts, just the apps) and fast for a week or two. The peace in  my  life has increased. God knows what we personally need. The ways of God are often very simple but often difficult for us to do.  I invite you to ask God and yourself the same kinds of questions and then trust and follow His guidance, “I echo the sentiment of a beautiful young returned sister missionary who said to us in Johannesburg just a few months ago, “[We] did not come this far only to come this far. 

 

 

As we do this we can build and hold onto hope of better days to come. I’d like to end with few quotes from Elder Holland’s talk that inspire our holding onto hope in Christ were very inspiring to me

So, I ask, “If so many of our 1820 hopes could begin to be fulfilled with a flash of divine light to a mere boy kneeling in a patch of trees in upstate New York, why should we not hope that righteous desires and Christlike yearnings can still be marvelously, miraculously answered by the God of all hope?” We all need to believe that what we desire in righteousness can someday, someway, somehow yet be ours.

..many religious leaders [of the day] seem clueless” ... offering in response “a thin gruel of therapeutic deism, cheap symbolic activism, carefully couched heresy, [or sometimes just] uninspiring nonsense”—and all at a time when the world needs so much more, when the rising generation deserves so much more, and when in Jesus’s day He offered so much more. As disciples of Christ, we can in our day rise above those ancient Israelites who moaned, “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost.” Indeed, if we finally lose hope, we lose our last sustaining possession.

The gifts and blessings that flow from that gospel mean everything to me—everything—so in an effort to thank my Father in Heaven for them, I have “promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” May we press forward with love in our hearts, walking in the “brightness of hope” that lights the path of holy anticipation we have been on now for 200 years. I testify that the future is going to be as miracle-filled and bountifully blessed as the past has been. We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation, this is the gospel of Christ’s unlimited grace and benevolence.

I know that if we continue day by day with the view that we can become as Christ and our Heavenly Parents want us to become, that we will feel a partnership with Him. We’ll feel the Spirit guiding us personally. I believe that this is the way to hear Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

Kess Larson - South Relief Society

 

Through looking back and imagining what would be hoped for at the restoration of the church, he and his wife thought of what they would have hoped for at that time. Looking forward we have already been given so many of those blessings that would have been hoped for. In doing this we can see what the progress of time can do. Those things that looked so big and unrealistic were possible.  

 

Looking back in our own lives we are able to put things into perspective as well. Things, especially big things and important things tend to feel daunting in the moment. It feels like no matter how hard you try progress can never be made. Sometimes those things come into fruition, and the hard truth is that sometimes they don’t. But does that mean we should abandon hope? No.  

 

Earlier this week I was talking to a friend that told me about her brother not acting on something that was and still is important to him because it felt pointless. No matter his actions he felt the outcome would still be the same. I have to admit that I have felt and do feel similar about the exact same situation he was in. I understand his actions completely. That left me wondering why I did end up acting in the same situation. Later that night I was talking to another friend and somehow the topic of the action or inaction on something that feels pointless came up again. My questions are: Is it good? Is it Christlike? Do you feel passionately about it and its importance even if it is sure to fail? If yes, then keep the hope. Keep acting. Maybe try different ways, but know why your hope is still there. 

 

Elder Holland goes on to say that “among our most indispensable virtues will be this precious gift of hope linked inextricably to our faith in God and our charity to others.” We have been given so much, but it is not all done. “Through our look ahead we still have hopes that have not yet been fulfilled.” “We are waging a war with COVID-19.” “When we have conquered this may we be equally committed to freeing the world of the virus of hunger, and free neighborhoods and nations from the virus of poverty. May we hope for schools where students are taught, not terrified they will be shot, and for the gift of personal dignity for every child of God unmarred by any form of racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice.” We have so much to do, but it is not hopeless. Elder Holland goes on to say we can do this by following the greatest commandments of loving God “and to love our neighbors by showing kindness and compassion, patience and forgiveness.” 

 

I really do believe that if we continue to act within the teachings and examples God has given us, then hope is not lost. We are still growing and so is absolutely everything else in the world around us. We need to give ourselves and the world the same kindness, compassion, patience, and forgiveness that we give our best friends and the people we love, and most importantly, not lose hope.

 

 

RS Lesson 9/13/20 - Deep in our Heart

RS Lesson - Two Perspectives

Deep in Our Heart by Elder Douglas D. Holmes

Tia Linford - North Relief Society

Brother Douglas D. Holmes said, "the Lord is trying to help us-all of us-get His gospel deeper in our hearts." How can we get the gospel "deep in our hearts"? How can we get a firmly rooted testimony of Christ in our lives?

One of the things he mentions in his talk, is that we can grow closer to God through relationships. No one was meant to go through life by themselves. We are meant to reach out to others and grow stronger together, whether that is with family members or friends. We can develop close relationships by seeing others the way that God does. I find that when I get to know people better, I grow to like them better. The relationships we establish here are still going to be around in the next life. There are some people who are needing that connection in their lives and we need to reach out to them. When we reach out to others and include them in our lives we can help them come closer to Christ. President Eyring commented, "What will matter most is what others learn from you about who they really are and what they can really become."

Another thing we can do to have the gospel more deeply rooted in our hearts is to have individual spiritual experiences. To have our own spiritual experiences we need to be open to receive them. One of the ways we can do this is through pondering the things that we study. I find that I get better revelation when I've been thinking about things for a while. We need to consistently study the scriptures and consistently think about what we are learning. When we are doing these things, the spirit can teach us what we need to learn.

I challenge all of you to build stronger relationships with others and to be open to receiving revelations. I know that if you do these things, you will have the gospel more firmly rooted in your heart and come closer to Christ. 

Alicia Ballard - South Relief Society

In his talk, Brother Holmes speaks on the joyous fact that the Restoration of the Gospel is alive and continues today. There have been changes and additions made to the Elders Quorum, Relief Society, Young Men and Young Women, and the Children’s organizations. These changes were made to help deepen the gospel in our hearts. That is the whole purpose. Brother Holmes spoke specifically of three principles that can help us deepen the gospel in our hearts. Relationships- “Be With Them”, Revelation, Agency and Repentance- “Connect Them with Heaven”, and Engagement and Sacrafice-“Let Them Lead”.

I will share my brief thoughts on the first principle.

One of the things I’ve really missed during Quarantine is meeting in person for meetings and gathering as friends. As a newish member of the ward those moments together really helped me to feel the ministering of the gospel.

Brother Holmes reminds us that relationships take time. We must have time together to laugh, play, discuss, learn about each other’s interests, and appreciate the wonderful uniqueness that is each our own. He said these relationships are one of the main reasons we meet as groups for it is the very foundation of ministering.

How true is that? I remember on my mission, when I was green, that the first thing my trainer taught me was that we must know and understand our investigators. We cannot be effective at ministering unless we took time to build a sincere relationship with them. I will forever be grateful for her wise counsel.

I felt deeply touched by Elder Dale G. Renlund’s quote, “To effectively serve others we must see them...through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all His children.”

If I’ve learned anything about spiritual matters is that things of the spirit must be taught by the spirit. How many times did you leave a friend’s house, or a conversation uplifted? Did you remember exactly what words were said? Or did you just feel the goodness?

This is the second thing my trainer taught me. More important than words, or the service given, was the feeling that lingered when we left. As President Eyring says, “What matters most is what others learn from you about who they really are and what they can really become. My guess is that they won’t learn it so much from lectures. They will get it from feelings of who you are, who you thing they are, and what you think they might become.”

To see others as God sees them is a gift. It is one that we must seek and ask for. Only then can our eyes be opened. It might not come quickly, keep asking. He will grant us the ability to see, and when we do our hearts will begin to unite. This is the first principle to deepen our hearts in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

RS Lesson 8/23/20 - Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God

 RS Lesson - Two Perspectives

Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Amy Wilcox - North Relief Society

Elder Renlund invites us to remember each day the greatness and goodness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and what they have done for you.

It is especially during difficult and trying times we need to remember the greatness of God, and consider what he has done for us as individuals, as families, and as a people.

While reading Elder Renlund’s talk, I immediately thought of my cousin Valerie.  Elder Renlund told of a man named Tom, he knew who was in need of a heart transplant.  After waiting for a long time, he finally received the live saving heart.  However, it was under difficult circumstances that he had to accept the gift of the donor heart that belonged to his beloved 16 year old grandson Jonathan. After first refusing the life saving heart he spoke with his daughter and son-in-law, and accepted the gift of life from Jonathan. They had come to understand that their prayers for a donor heart, did not cause Jonathan’s accident.

After his surgery, Tom was a different man.  The change went beyond improved health or even gratitude.  He was more solemn, thoughtful and kindhearted. Tom started each day thinking of his daughter and son-in-law and of his beloved grandson. On the gift he had received, and what that gift had entailed.  Tom lived 13 additional years after the transplant, allowing him to touch the lives of his family and others with generosity and love. He was an example of optimism and determination.

 While his story isn’t the same as my cousin Valerie, it is no less difficult.  Valerie was killed earlier this year at the start of the pandemic, when an older driver was heading the wrong way on the interstate, and they met head on.   There was nothing my cousin could have done to avoid this tragic accident. Val was heading to pick up her youngest daughter from BYU-Idaho from her home in Colorado.

My Dad’s sister Charlynn posted this about the loss of her sweet daughter: …“Valerie, recognized the Lord’s intervention in protecting her in episodes of her work life with troubled youth, and from  a freaky previous accident; she told me if she was ever taken from this life [before we were], that it would be okay, because she knew the Lord had protected her in those other times.  She lived life to the fullest; at a miserable point in her life she had told me that she made every day a good day, no matter what.  That she was sure she had made that day where she was taken from this life, a good day”.

Valerie had a lot of trials in her short life, however, her outlook on life, and the big smile she always had, you would have never known.  Many of my siblings commented that she was their favorite cousin from that family.  She made everyone feel loved, and that she was excited to see you, and to catch up with what was going on in your life.  Her smile lit up a room.

 Elder Renlund said In the exuberance of knowing that we can be saved and exalted, we need to remember that salvation and exaltation came at a great cost. “We can be reverently joyful as we realize without Jesus Christ, we are doomed, but with Him we receive the greatest gift Heavenly Father can give.

This reverence allows us to enjoy the promise of eternal life..even immortal glory” in the world to come.  When we consider the goodness and greatness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our trust in Them increases.  Our prayers change because we know God is our Father and we are His Children.  We seek not to change His will but to align our will with his and secure for ourselves blessings that He wants to grant, conditioned on our asking for them. We yearn to be more meek, more pure, more steadfast, more Christlike.

 Our Heavenly Father referring to his beloved son, said “Hear Him” as you act on these words and listen to Him, remember joyfully and reverently, that the savior loves to restore what you cannot restore, He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken, He compensates for any unfairness inflicted on you, and He loves to permanently mend even shattered hearts.

I believe this is exactly why my cousin Valerie was able to make everyday a good day.  She acknowledged God’s greatness and blessings in her life. She remembered joyfully and reverently Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and all they had done for her. 

 My Dad wrote of her in an email to his sister  “Valerie always displayed a positive outlook, a cheerful countenance and love for life and for those around her-especially family..we know if we individually set a goal, and make the effort, we can be together forever and that we can and will feel Heavenly Father’s comforting influence”.  I personally  believe without a doubt He has and will continue to heal our family’s shattered hearts over the loss of Valerie. He will make whole what we cannot.

Elder Renlund also said "Let your consideration of Their goodness more firmly bind your wandering heart to Them.  Ponder Their compassion, and will you will be blessed with added spiritual sensitivity and become more Christlike.  Contemplating Their empathy with help you 'hold out faithful to the end' until you 'are received into heaven' to 'dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness.'” 

 

Berenice Ventura - South Relief Society

I was delightfully surprised to realize that this week's CFM assignment was somewhat similar to Elder Renlund's talk. I was especially touched by the last section in the CFM manual: "My faith is strengthened by 'the greatness of the evidences [I have] received,'" which reminded me of the words with which Elder Renlund starts his address. He talks about the Book of Mormon constantly exhorting us to look back into our lives and see all that God has done for us. 

A few months ago, I was doing a little writing, and I penned these words: "For years I've been asked to walk on water, where roots float, but take no hold." This imagery helped me put feelings and tiredness into words. I was longing for respite and solid ground to stand on, and I was also praying for this walking on water to end. While writing and trying to find meaning through words, the image of the Savior standing by me embraced me and gave me comfort. I was reminded of never being left alone to my own resources: Heavenly Father and the Savior had and have always been there for me. Miracles have come my way, people have crossed paths with me and been an answer to prayers, doors and windows have opened, a safe haven has always been made available for me. I was reminded that They have always been by my side, I've never been alone, even if that was how I felt. 

A few months ago, this gave me strength to keep walking on water,, and even forget about it for a while. So not much has changed, but everything has changed, because the way I was thinking about my situation changed. As Elder Renlund said, "Reverence for the givers does more than just make us grateful. Reflecting on Their gifts can and should transform us."

 RS Lesson - A Perspective + Video

"United in Accomplishing God's Work" By Sister Jean B. Bingham

"What Lack I Yet" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence

Nina Hodge - North Relief Society

We live in a pretty divided world right now. There are major issues we face that affect our future and how life will progress from here. Opinions and feelings are strong, and it can be difficult to have meaningful conversations in which we feel safe expressing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or attack.

 

Sister Bingham offered a lot of relevant counsel on how we as individuals can bridge the gap between ourselves and those around us. She started with lessons Adam and Eve learned first in the garden and later as they labored together to provide for their family. Many of the things they did then are things we can do today. But we must first have a desire to work together.

 

First, she pointed out that Adam and Even “counseled and prayed together.” Do we counsel and pray with others about the things that weigh on our minds and hearts? Do we approach difficult conversations with open minds and hearts? Do we have a sincere desire to both hear and be heard? It takes work and involves risk to put ourselves out there – to share our concerns or fears, to withhold judgment and criticism, to open ourselves up to the potential judgment or criticism of others, to give someone the benefit of a doubt instead of assuming they mean to do us harm.

 

To this point, Sister Bingham pointed out that “through the fall, [Adam and Eve learned that it was essential to act in unity and love.” They went on to teach their children what they learned through that experience, demonstrating for their children what it looked like to act in unity and love. Are we learning those same lessons? Do we really know how to act in unity and love? Do we model this for others?

 

Sister Bingham also taught that “Adam and Even learned to appreciate their differing strengths and supported one another.” This might be the most challenging of all. We hear a lot today about equality. We hear much less about the value of difference. Being united doesn’t mean we all have to be the same, but it does mean we need to be able to value what others bring to our lives.

 

In my family, I have a sister who is an exceptional pianist, one who can play almost any instrument with strings (I think the harp is the only one she hasn’t tried … yet), one who is an artist, and one who has a gift of connecting with people.  While the two instrumentalists are very similar in their talents, we are a very diverse group overall. Each has her own very unique set of lived experiences … no two even close to the same! We meet over zoom every Sunday just to check in and see how each other is doing. Our conversations are often long (we were online for nearly 2 hours today), but I have come to really love the time to learn from each of my sisters. We still often talk over each other in an attempt to be heard, and we don’t always agree on whatever we’re discussing. But, at the end of each call, what matters most is our relationship. Today, I thought of this description Sister Bingham provided of Alison and John:

 

 “Each desired the happiness of the other more than his or her own; each looked for the good in one another and worked to overcome the not-so-great in him or herself. They took turns leading and took turns giving more when one partner was struggling. Each valued the other’s contributions and found better answers to their challenges as they combined their talents and resources.”

 

Though the people here are a married couple, each individual can work toward having this kind of relationship with key people in his/her life. We can look for the good, support those who struggle, and acknowledge when we are in need of a little extra help. We can also work together to find solutions instead of trying to push through on our own. To me, this is what unity looks like.

South Relief Society Presidency - What Lack I Yet?

RS Lesson - Two Perspectives
A Good Foundation against the Time to Come
By Gary E. Stevenson

Tia Linford - North Relief Society

The Salt Lake Temple was built 127 years ago and has mostly withstood the test of time. Now there is a renovation that will improve the temples ability to last through earthquakes and other natural disasters. Elder Gary E. Stevenson asks, "How could this extensive renewal of the Salt Lake Temple inspire us to undergo our own spiritual renewal,reconstruction, rebirth, revitalization, or restoration?" How can we renovate our own spiritual foundations and make them stronger?  

Elder Stevenson talks about a family friend that passed away who always said, "God is in the details." People would ask her how she could have faith when battling with cancer. I love her reply to this question, "Having faith doesn't mean nothing bad is going to happen. Having faith allows me to believe that there will be light again." She had a foundation of faith that helped her to see God in her life, even through her time of pain. Being members of Christ's church does not mean that nothing bad will happen to us. It does mean that we can call on Christ for help. It does mean that Christ is looking out for us. It does mean that if we hold out faithful to the end, we can be with him again.

We all know the primary song about "the wise man who built his house upon a rock". What is your rock? Is your house built on a rock or on the sand? The storms of life are going to keep on coming. We are here to be tested. We are here to have trials. If God just gave everything to us on a platter, there would be no room for growth and we would not be able to become like him. Part of that growth requires us to go through hard things. It's how we react and learn from those things that determine what the outcome will be. Benny Lewis said, "The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is how high you raise your foot." Have our trials become stumbling blocks or stepping stones of growth?

How can we have a spiritual upgrade to our foundation? Elder Stevenson says we can start by asking ourselves the questions President Nelson read at General Conference. "1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost? 2. Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer? 3. Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ? and 4. Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?" These questions can help us build the "cornerstones" of our foundations. I encourage you to ask yourselves these questions. If you cannot say yes to some of them, I encourage you to study the scriptures and pray for help in receiving a testimony about it. I know  that in order to stay strong through the tests and trials of life we have to have a strong foundation built on our testimony of Christ. I know we will not be tested above our ability to persevere with the help of Christ and His Atonement. I am going to leave you with this scripture from Philippians 4 verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Alicia Ballard - South Relief Society

This week’s talk was familiar wasn’t it?  Build a good foundation and you will have safety.  I don’t say this with bitterness.  I believe repetition is important in learning and in teaching.  

Elder Bednar, in an address given at BYU-I in 2016 said, “ Repetition is a vehicle through which the Holy Ghost can enlighten our minds, influence our hearts, and enlarge our understanding.”

While I have never complained about church lessons being repeated each year, I haven’t always used the repetition as a “vehicle” for the Holy Ghost.  To be completely honest, most of the time I just smile, nod, and say to myself, “Good lesson!”,”What a great talk!”, “I felt the Spirit, that’s for sure!”.  

Since last April, I have listened to this talk multiple times, and even more since preparing to share a thought with you.  It was only after the second or third time of listening that two phrases stood out to me.

“This technology (base isolation technology—seismic upgrade package for the SLC Temple), recent in its development, begins at the very foundation of the temple, providing a robust defense against damage from an earthquake.  In essence, it structurally strengthens the temple to stand steadfast, even as the earth and the environment around it undergo an earthshaking seismic event.”

Even more specifically, four words.  “recent in its development”.  

It just kept hitting me, over and over again, that until recently this technology wasn’t even invented!  How cool is that?  Even after so much research and effort has been made previously to strengthen the foundation of buildings/structures with great success, engineers continue to work towards creating a better way to defend against earthquakes and other tempests.  

Now that this new technology is available, it isn’t a wonder that the Church would immediately start work on ensuring the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple.  

We also must be diligent continually to revitalize (I love this word) our own spiritual foundations.  

Elder Stevenson gives us many examples of questions we can ask ourselves.  

“What does my foundation look like?

What comprises the thick walled, stable, strong cornerstones that are part of my personal foundation, upon which my testimony rests?

What are the foundational elements of my spiritual and emotional character that will allow me and my family to remain steadfast and immovable, even to withstand the earthshaking and tumultuous seismic events that will surely take place in our lives?”

In answering these questions, the Holy Ghost revealed to me areas in my personal foundation that need work and revitalization.  And now is the time to start the restoration.  It’s going to take effort, and it might painful at times but like the temple I have hope that the work will prepare me for the elements that come and the storms that will beat down.  

I am inspired by the words of Elder Holland, “If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart.  So it has been with the best who ever lived.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve needed to reconstruct, and I dare say it won’t be the last.  Maybe it’s the same for you.  Like Elder Holland said, “take heart”.   Jesus Christ is the details.  He is the Master Builder, the Master Engineer, and the Master Healer.  If he can inspire men on how to reconstruct a buildings foundation, he can inspire each of us on how to reconstruct, revitalize, renew, and even rebirth our own personal foundations.  

I pray that we may all seek the Lord early, and often and that He will be found and that He will direct yours and my paths. 

RS Lesson: Two Perspectives
An Especially Noble Calling (Additional Material Link)
By Sister Joy D. Jones

Cynthia Stevenson - North Relief Society

 

In my pondering of the talk, An Especially Noble Calling, the interview between the children and our prophet stands out as the centerpiece of the talk. The question is asked, "Is being a prophet hard?" -- Could we ask ourselves that same question and reframe the word, "hard" into a different word, "challenge" --Are we choosing to go through challenges and humble ourselves willingly, rather than the alternative -- we are often compelled to be humble when the Lord wants to call us to repentance. If we choose an easy road, how much growth can we expect? Isn't it better to choose to change and take upon ourselves challenges? We don't have to reserve repentance for when we have committed sin. We can, instead, see the good that we are doing and then still change. Perhaps in doing so we are becoming more of who we truly are and who the Lord wants us to be.

One more thing to consider is how to handle overwhelm or discouragement. Some scriptures come to mind: Alma 37:6-7 says, "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." We can approach difficulties one small step at a time, breaking down a challenge into small manageable chunks. Another two scriptures, D&C 98:12, states "For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith." And Ether 12:27, "...if men [and women] come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all...that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

When we are asked to be perfect, we are not expected to be so immediately, but instead to work to change day by day. Elder Bednar quotes President Oaks, "Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained that in renewing our baptismal covenants by partaking of the emblems of the sacrament, “we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. [Rather], we witness that we are willing to do so. (See D&C 20:77.) The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon us in the [ultimate and] most important sense.” Elder Bednar goes on in saying, "These scriptures help us understand that the process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ." And finally, to quote Sister Jones,  "We access the power of the priesthood through covenants, made first in the waters of baptism and then within the walls of holy temples. President Nelson taught us, “Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God.”

We can strive to follow promptings and Hear Him in all that we do by constant prayer, daily scripture study, pondering and participating in the covenants we have made and will continue to make. Let us all strive to be a little more challenged each day to live the life God wants to bless us with.

Berenice Ventura - South Relief Society

 

I have loved going over Sister Jones's talk again. So many of her words ring true to my heart.

Personal revelation is probably the one that sunk deeper this time.

I am so grateful that we live in a time when we are allowed, encouraged, and expected to look for answers to our questions without the need for intermediaries. In this Plan in which agency has an integral role, it gives me peace to know that I can ask questions to my Father in Heaven, I can ask Him for confirmation on any words pronounced by those acting under the name of the Lord, and I can receive additional light and knowledge on past events on my quest for truth.

At the end of last week, I brought my camping chair to the green area across from the Provo Temple, and sat there, looking towards that sacred and beloved structure, talking to my Father in my heart and in my mind. It's been a tough year, it had been a tumultuous week, and I needed some heavenly help discerning what was what. While there, an immense sense of peace came over me, and I had no doubt that Heavenly Father was listening, and telling me: "You're looking in the right direction; there's truth there, and there's truth in the covenants you've made with me."

As President Nelson said, “Every woman... who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God.”20   

Direct access to the power of God means direct access to the priesthood, through our covenants with God. This knowledge gives me peace, it gives me joy, and it gives me spiritual power. There is no problem that I can't solve, no question that I can't have answered, no task that I have to perform alone if I have direct access to the power of God.