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.

Relief Society Lesson - Two Perspectives

Spiritually Defining Memories

By Elder Neil L. Andersen

Kess Larsen - South Relief Society

When I think of spiritual defining memories I usually think of the blessing where I felt I am a literal child of Heavenly Father, the time my father told me to never give up, the blessing where I felt my ancestors there supporting me. I usually think of the moments that were filled with intense emotions that you want to hold onto forever and write down. Elder Anderson told many of those stories in his talk, but what about the man he mentioned that said he had never had one of those experiences. It is possible he was looking for something more grand and wasn’t receiving what was there for him to take. I think a lot of us are feeling more like that man these days. Sometimes it is hard to focus on spiritual things when there are so many other important things to think about, or maybe we are asking and asking while diving deep into connection with Heavenly Father and not getting or seeing the answers. In thinking of spiritually defining moments I think I need to slow down and listen. Just like any relationship, understanding how you communicate with each other is important. Also knowing that the way you communicate with each other, like everything else, will change too, and we need to listen and adjust.

Amy Wilcox - North Relief Society

… “When personal difficulties or world conditions beyond our control darken our path, the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead”.
  Many of us may think that we don’t have a spiritually defining moment.  President Dallin H. Oaks responding to a man who claimed never to have had such an experience, counseled, “perhaps your prayers have been answered again and again, but you have had your expectations fixed on a sign so grand or a voice so loud that you think you have had no answer”. 

I wonder how many of us feel the same way as this man.  We are expecting something so grand, that the small answers we receive we think, no that can’t be it-I’m waiting for the BIG grand answer, while missing all the signs pointing us to Gods answers. We expect the big booming voice-not the small assurance that is a spiritually defining memory.  I feel some of these can be something as simple as getting a prompt to call someone and following through with that prompt. We may never know why we were prompted to call them-maybe by answering the prompt and calling them they were given the gift of a spiritually defining memory.   

Four years ago, I had a prompt to call my great aunt-simply to tell her I was coming over that night to irrigate.  I usually never called her during the day while at work.  I thought I would make a quick call, go back to work.  When she answered the phone, she said “hello” however right after she started talking gibberish. I asked if she was okay, and she answered “no”.  Arriving at her house after racing out of work and driving 15 minutes away my sister and I found she was in medical distress.  She ended up having had a stroke that took her ability to speak. Had I not answered the prompt, I’m not sure how long it would have been until it was discovered she had had a stroke.  We grew closer after her stroke. What a testimony builder it has been to have had that experience with her.  She is now 95. She and I have a close relationship, helped in part of this experience.

While we can’t choose the timing of receiving these defining moments, President Henry B. Eyring gave this counsel in our preparation: “Tonight and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my (family)?  Faith, obedience, humility, and real intent open the windows of Heaven.

President Dallin H. Oaks explained what real intent means.  He said it is something like this: “I do not ask out of curiosity, but with total sincerity to act on the answer to my prayer.  If Thou wilt give me this answer, I will act to change my life.  I will respond”.  How many of us have said to someone, “you are in my thoughts and prayers”?  Too often we pray for others to receive assistance from someone else, rather than us.  Praying and helping is something different.

Elder Andersen encourages us to embrace your sacred memories.  Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son.  Let them bring your patience to your doubts and understanding to your difficulties.   …And when someone sets their spiritually defining moments aside, and is lost or confused, we turn them toward the Savior as we share our faith and memories with them.

One of President Monson’s favorite quotes is from Scottish poet James M Barrie: “God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives” The Lord knows we can’t have the good all the time, but during the hard times we have our spiritually defining memories to get us through. 

By writing them down, you will also help others through the “December” of their life.  You also might need the reminders.  As we are mostly alone right now during the pandemic, our Heavenly Father is still there for us, he still wants what is best for his children.  God assures us he knows us and loves each one of us. He is blessing us specifically and openly.  We need to turn to Him in our times of need.  Turn to Him when we feel alone.  He is there for us.  He Loves us.

I know God is our loving Heavenly Father.  He knows us personally.  He has given us the opportunity to come to Him.  It is our choice to see the miracles, and trust in his plan.

RS Lesson

Hear Him

by President Russell M. Nelson

 

Nina Hodge - North Relief Society

Toward the beginning of this year, before the pandemic, President Nelson began encouraging church members to think about how we hear the Savior’s voice. In a special invitation presented in February, he invited us “… to think deeply and often about … how … you hear Him?  I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often.”  

As I’ve thought about this invitation to hear the voice of the Savior better and more often, 3 Nephi 11 first came to mind. At this point in the Book of Mormon, the Nephites had just spent several days enduring storms, earthquakes, and thick darkness. This particular chapter begins with the people expressing wonder at the dramatic changes to the land as a result of the previous days’ events and the signs of the Savior’s death. While they were talking together, they heard a voice. Three times they heard the voice, but they did not understand or recognize the voice the first two times they heard it.

It was verse five that first came to my mind as I listened to President Nelson’s invitation to hear the Savior’s voice:  “And again the third time they did hear the voice, and they did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence it came.”

There is work involved in accomplishing anything. In this example, the Nephites demonstrated the work necessary to hear and understand the voice they heard from the heavens by opening their ears, turning their eyes toward the sound, and looking steadfastly toward the heavens. Then, the message they received was the Savior.  

President Nelson referenced this chapter of the Book of Mormon in his talk, in addition to a few other similar scriptural examples of invitations from the Father to the people to hear His Son. President Nelson offered, by way of explanation, that “[our] Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. Because when we seek to hear – truly hear – His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.”

Like the Nephites in this example, we are also surrounded by upheaval and uncertainty. The pandemic and resulting social distancing have been very hard on some, and many have felt the financial strain of closed businesses and smaller salaries. Remembering and re-reading this part of 3 Nephi 11, I was struck this time that the voice didn’t just speak once and retreat when no one understood. It came again a second and third time. The voice of our Heavenly Father continued trying to reach the Nephites until they did the work necessary to hear and understand. I believe with all my heart He does the same with us today.

For me, prayer is one form of work that helps me focus more on hearing the Savior’s voice. One of the questions I find myself asking a lot these days is, “What lesson am I not understanding? What do I need to learn that I just haven’t heard yet?” This question helps me focus more on Him – hearing Him and ultimately trying to become more like Him. It takes the focus off of what I think I need or what I want for myself. As I focus on Him, I do find greater peace. That peace is not an absence of hard things or the sudden removal of pain. Those hard things still exist, and pain will always be part of this mortal experience. However, they do not remain the focus. It is as if focusing on the Savior and hearing His voice push the pain and disappointment and struggle of life into the background, and it becomes easier to breathe and relax and find my way back to Him.

President Nelson once again “pled for [us] to do whatever it takes to increase [our spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.” He promised that “Doing so will help you know how to move ahead with your life, what to do during times of crisis, and how to discern and avoid the temptations and the deceptions of the adversary.” These are likely things we will continue to struggle with throughout the rest of our time in mortality. It brings me comfort to know I can find the direction I need to move forward and handle the challenges that are still ahead. I don’t need to do it all myself. Hearing the Savior’s voice and focusing on Him means I have access to greater strength than I will ever possess on my own; it means I can find peace when nothing around me is peaceful; and it means I can feel His love when I am the most alone.

RS Lesson - Two Perspectives

A Living Witness of the Living Christ

by Bishop Gérald Caussé

 

Kristen Erekson - South Relief Society

I recently read this scripture from Mosiah 14:4 as part of the Come Follow Me study: “Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” 

I suspect many of you may have felt grief and can relate well, but I had a harder time relating to that word. So I looked it up in the dictionary and it listed misery, anguish, suffering, heartache, heartbreak. I definitely can think of times when I have felt miserable, felt a sense of anguish, and I absolutely have felt heartache and heartbreak. Have you felt any of these things? 

I liked these quotes from the talk by Elder Causse:
“In addition to bearing the burden of our sins, the Christ took upon Himself our sorrows, infirmities, sufferings, and sicknesses and all the afflictions inherent in the mortal condition of man. There is no anguish, no pain or sadness that He did not suffer for us.”

“He died for each one of us, personally, as if you or I were the only person on earth.” 

We are not alone in our tough times. 

And even when we don’t feel loved by those close to us or anyone at all or when we don’t even feel particularly loveable, I believe that the Living Christ offers us constant love. I draw strength knowing that He died for us and would do it again. 

Here is hope!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4X9C1Vg9DYQ

 

Doralia Serrano - North Relief Society

There are two thoughts that I keep referring to from the talk by Bishop Causse:

1. The statue of the Christus that we have in many locations, was originally carved in 1820, the same year that Joseph Smith saw the first vision.
2. The central message of the Book of Mormon is to restore the true knowledge of the essential role of Jesus Christ in the salvation and exaltation of mankind.

I imagine been present there, when Christ came to visit the Nephites as a resurrected being and coming down from the heavens. Christ invited each one of them to come and feel the prints of his hands and feet, showing that he was the One that had been promised to be sent to help us. Those prints were the only physical sign that he had  to show them who he was. Each person present was able to receive  testimony of who he was and what he could do for them. He is the LIVING CHRIST!

I know that we receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost to do many things that a good for us and for the world. I feel that it is not a coincidence that Bertel Thorvaldsen, the Danish artist that sculpted the image of a living Christ did it in 1820. I imagine that the Spirit let him know that this is the way that Christ comes to us. Without been present at the sacred grove, he was able to portrait the message that God had prepared for that year, because of inspiration. And just like the Spirit inspires people to create works of art that stand for generations, he inspires us to Come unto Christ. Christ is inviting you “to come forth and thrust [your] hands into His side and feel the prints of the nails in His hands and feet, thereby receiving a personal witness that he [is] indeed the long-awaited Messiah.”

How do you feel the prints of the nails in His hands and feet? or “when was the last time you felt the sweet influence of the Savior’s Atonement in your life?”

I feel it when I study the Book of Mormon. Today, I felt a confirmation of the promise that we have received: if we study this book we are going to hear His voice.

Mosiah 26:33 says “when Alma had heard these words he wrote them down that HE MIGHT HAVE THEM.” He wrote the words of revelation and guidance that he received directly from God, that he might have them. And now, we have them too. And Christ invites us to read them to feel the nails in His hands and feet and to receive the hope that he brings.
 

Nicole Anderson

Speaking of Visiting Teaching - do you know one of my Visiting Teachers?

Nicole Anderson was born on April 7th (Happy Belated Birthday!) and calls Salt Lake City home.

Her favorite scripture verse is Helaman 3:35 - "Nevertheless, they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yeah, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."  The reason why is "It's a good reminder of how to deal with trials and adversity and I like the idea of giving our hearts to God."

Something unique about Nicole is that she has double jointed elbows (she can twist them all the way around).

She is currently getting a Ph.D. in Educational Research at BYU.  She has worked at an evaluation company evaluating abstinence-based sex education programs, a market research company, and the BYU Salt Lake Center teaching undergraduate psychology classes.  But she also loves to have fun.  She recently participated on BYU GSS's intramural volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and inner tube water polo teams.  She loves traveling and has traveled to Europe, China, and the Caribbean.  She also loves going to Lake Powell on a houseboat in the summers! 

Her favorite dessert is Key lime pie or cheesecake with homegrown raspberries (it's a toss-up).

The one place she'd like to go is the Mediterranean on a cruise

Also - can we talk about this picture?! Has anyone else gone to donut falls - That has to be my all-time favorite hike!

PS - also a little shout-out....our schedules don't always match up very well - but today when I came home from work I had a chocolate bar waiting for me! :) Thanks Nicole!

Ceci Fernandez

Ceci Fernandez was born October 5th and is from Lima Peru.

If there is something she could learn it would be how to make home-made noodles

3 words describe her are: reliable, funny, compassionate 

Her favorite hymn is There is a Green Hill Far Away. She had a roommate that would play this hymn every morning on the piano. It strengthened her testimony of Christ's Atonement.

Something unique about Ceci - she just submitted a manuscript for publication.

Ceci's favorite dessert is banana nut bread with dark chocolate chips

(personally, I think Ceci is one of my favorite people. She is down-to-earth but always fun to be around and gives amazing advice. I was able to get to know her better through Visiting Teaching and I am glad I can call her my friend. Quick shameless plug - have you done your visiting teaching for April yet? The sisters in our ward are some of the best. Get to know them! Visiting teaching is one of the best ways to get to know someone new or to rekindle old friendships. While you're at it, stop Ceci sometime and say Hi or bake her some banana nut bread with dark chocolate chips! She's a great person to get to know)