Make sure to signup/go to tithing settlement ASAP.
Nov 25th Temple closed after noon
Nov 26th Happy Thanksgiving!
Dec 2nd Stake Canning night
Dec 4th – 5th Nativity and Music exhibit – invite friends/neighbors!
6th first Presidency Christmas devotional
Dec 12th Ward Christmas Party – read through the FHE idea (see link), bring a gift for the Savior!
Dec 14th 6:30 Stake Choir Christmas concert
RS Lesson today by Irene: Ensign » 2009 » November
Our Perfec
t Example by President Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First Presidency Some points:
- no matter how good we are, we can always be better. (no such thing as good enough)
- no matter how bad we are we can always be better. (don’t give up)
“We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior”
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
(Book of Mormon Mosiah 3:19)
The transformation from putting off the natural man to becoming like the savior happens through prayer, faith, love, hope, humility, repentance, changing, and guidance from the Spirit.
Irene wrote the previous good things on the board with arrows showing how one leads to the other, and then back again. Following one good thing leads to increased testimonies in the others, which in turn brings us full circle to appreciating the first good thing more. An upward spiral of progression.
Love vs. force – why is love used? Lara asked wouldn’t it be worth it if we were just forced to obey?
“Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like Him, our perfect example. Our way of life, hour by hour, must be filled with the love of God and love for others. There is no surprise in that, since the Lord proclaimed those as the first and great commandments. It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey Him.”
It is impossible to force someone to love, be selfless, etc. etc. Love is the only way to attain the qualities of the Savior. We talked about children – grabbing the 3yo and not letting them stick their hand in the electrical outlet – forcing them to comply, and then at some point, learning to let go, being led by the Spirit to know what point that happens at.
Annette shared some advice – that it is as if your family is on a little boat going down the river. If your kids jump out of the boat, not to jump in after them (in which case you both drown) but to stay on the boat, and call out to them to come back… sometimes you have to let go and rely on the promise that if they were raised in the way that they should go, when they are older, they will come back to their roots.
Irene shared receiving an impression that Heavenly Father knew and loved her children more than she did – letting go is trusting in God. “The story of the prodigal son gives us all hope. The prodigal remembered home, as will your children. They will feel your love drawing them back to you.”
“the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love.”
Irene always pays attention to council given on things we should do – here is the council from President Erying:
“I give counsel to husbands and wives. Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companion’s joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion.”
In summary, there is always room to progress, and through the help of our Savior, it is always possible to progress. To concentrate on learning how to love, use the tools of faith, hope, prayer, repentance, and guidance from the Spirit in an upward spiral of progression.
Thanks for the great lesson Irene!
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!
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