There is one new goal added to the list this year that I don't think I've had any other year: dates with my husband. I also have a new format: the calendar.
Daily:
scripture study
piano practice (starting with Primary songs for the new year)
no treats (except for real special occasions) (added 2-17)
Sundays:
blog post
family history research
call/email extended family
index records at familysearch.org
journal
seminary prep
Mondays:
clean living areas
teach seminary
sub (goal is 2 days a week--M, T, and/or F)
wash whites
balance budget
zumba
FHE
Tuesdays:
clean bedroom
teach seminary
sub
Alex to YM
date with Glen (or F, but he's often busy on F)
Wednesdays:
clean pantry
teach seminary
temple
VT Sue 1st W of the month
Thursdays:
clean laundry room
wash sheets and towels
teach seminary
seminary prep
Spanish practice
RS 2nd Th of the month
zumba
Fridays:
clean bathroom
sub
date with Glen
Saturdays:
clean kitchen
clean car (1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month)
zumba
other laundry
I like it.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
"Tested and Tempted--but Helped" by Elder Hugo Montoya
General Conference October 2015 study notes
Tested and Tempted--but Helped by Elder Hugo Montoya Saturday afternoon session
Four ways our burdens are lightened as we help each other:
1-"Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain"
For example, we are asked to attend the temple regularly....this sacrifice could be considered part of the first mile.
We begin walking the second mile when we...search for and prepare the names of our ancestors for temple ordinances, when we help in indexing, when we serve as temple workers, and when we look for ways to help others have meaningful temple experiences.
2. Smile.
3. Express compassion to others.
4. The cornerstone of God's plan is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. At least once a week, we should meditate...on the "great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world. Inviting others to come to church and to worthily partake of the sacrament will allow more of Heavenly Father's children to reflect on the Atonement. And if we are not worthy, we can repent.
It does not matter what our personal struggles are--whether they are disease or prolonged loneliness or suffering the temptations and tests of the adversary--the Good Shepherd is there. He calls us by name and says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Tested and Tempted--but Helped by Elder Hugo Montoya Saturday afternoon session
Four ways our burdens are lightened as we help each other:
1-"Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain"
For example, we are asked to attend the temple regularly....this sacrifice could be considered part of the first mile.
We begin walking the second mile when we...search for and prepare the names of our ancestors for temple ordinances, when we help in indexing, when we serve as temple workers, and when we look for ways to help others have meaningful temple experiences.
2. Smile.
3. Express compassion to others.
4. The cornerstone of God's plan is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. At least once a week, we should meditate...on the "great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world. Inviting others to come to church and to worthily partake of the sacrament will allow more of Heavenly Father's children to reflect on the Atonement. And if we are not worthy, we can repent.
It does not matter what our personal struggles are--whether they are disease or prolonged loneliness or suffering the temptations and tests of the adversary--the Good Shepherd is there. He calls us by name and says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
"The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life" by Elder Richard J. Maynes
General Conference October 2015 study notes
The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life by Elder Richard J. Maynes Saturday morning session
Although I thoroughly enjoyed Elder Maynes talk, I didn't find that I underlined much as I read it over, perhaps because he shares a few scripture stories in order to share his message. This is what I have to post:
Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness.
The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life by Elder Richard J. Maynes Saturday morning session
Although I thoroughly enjoyed Elder Maynes talk, I didn't find that I underlined much as I read it over, perhaps because he shares a few scripture stories in order to share his message. This is what I have to post:
Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness.
The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
"God is at the Helm" by Elder M. Russell Ballard
General Conference October 2015 study notes
"God is at the Helm" by Elder M. Russell Ballard Saturday morning session
Too many people think Church leaders and members should be perfect or nearly perfect. They forget that the Lord's grace is sufficient to accomplish His work through mortals. Our leaders have the best intentions, but sometimes we make mistakes.
Looking for human weakness in others is rather easy. However, we make a serious mistake by noticing only the human nature of one another and then failing to see God's hand working through those He has called. Focusing on how the Lord inspires His chosen leaders and how He moves the Saints to do remarkable and extraordinary things despite their humanity is one way that we hold on to the gospel of Jesus Christ and stay safely about the Old Ship Zion.
By understanding who our Heavenly Father is and our realtionship to Him and to His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we will accept Their commandments and make covenants with Them that will lead us back into Their eternal presence.
What will you become through the Atonement of Christ?
Another important doctrine that we should cling to is to observe the Sabbath day. This helps us remain unspotted from the world, provides us with physical rest, and gives each of us the spiritual refreshment of worshipping the Father and the Son every Sunday. When we delight in the Sabbath day, it is a sign of our love for Them.
Fast and testimony meetings--a place to briefly express gratitude, love, and appreciation for our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel and to bear personal witness of these things. It is a time to share brief inspirational thoughts and bear solemn testimony. It is not a time to give a speech.
Exaltation is the goal of this mortal journey, and no one gets there without the means of the gospel of Jesus Christ: His Atonement, the ordinances, and the guiding doctrine and principles that are found in the Church.
"God is at the Helm" by Elder M. Russell Ballard Saturday morning session
Too many people think Church leaders and members should be perfect or nearly perfect. They forget that the Lord's grace is sufficient to accomplish His work through mortals. Our leaders have the best intentions, but sometimes we make mistakes.
Looking for human weakness in others is rather easy. However, we make a serious mistake by noticing only the human nature of one another and then failing to see God's hand working through those He has called. Focusing on how the Lord inspires His chosen leaders and how He moves the Saints to do remarkable and extraordinary things despite their humanity is one way that we hold on to the gospel of Jesus Christ and stay safely about the Old Ship Zion.
By understanding who our Heavenly Father is and our realtionship to Him and to His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we will accept Their commandments and make covenants with Them that will lead us back into Their eternal presence.
What will you become through the Atonement of Christ?
Another important doctrine that we should cling to is to observe the Sabbath day. This helps us remain unspotted from the world, provides us with physical rest, and gives each of us the spiritual refreshment of worshipping the Father and the Son every Sunday. When we delight in the Sabbath day, it is a sign of our love for Them.
Fast and testimony meetings--a place to briefly express gratitude, love, and appreciation for our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel and to bear personal witness of these things. It is a time to share brief inspirational thoughts and bear solemn testimony. It is not a time to give a speech.
Exaltation is the goal of this mortal journey, and no one gets there without the means of the gospel of Jesus Christ: His Atonement, the ordinances, and the guiding doctrine and principles that are found in the Church.
"A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose" by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf
General Conference October 2015 Study Notes
A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf General Women's Session
The Savior taught using simple stories.
Listen with the Spirit so He can help you find the message for you.
"There is enough that doesn't go right in life, so anyone can work themselves into a puddle of pessimism and a mess of melancholy. But I know people who, even when things don't work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These folks are the happiest people I know." ~ Great-Aunt Rose
"God didn't design us to be sad. He created us to have joy! If we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life.... No, it doesn't happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? Seems to me that the best things, like homemade bread or orange marmalade, take patience and work." ~Great-Aunt Rose
Faith leads to hope. And faith and hope can give us confidence that one day everything will make sense, that because of the Savior, all the wrongs will be made right.
"Faith in the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story could have a happy ending." ~Great-Aunt Rose
"Now is part of eternity." ~Great-Aunt Rose
"I exercised faith in God's promises by filling my life with meaningful things." ~Great-Aunt Rose
"You see, everything else in the gospel--all the shoulds and the musts and the thou shalts--lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and help others to solve theirs.... This is what makes us happy." ~Great-Aunt Rose
Meme-worthy:
Meme-worthy, but from a different conference:
A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf General Women's Session
The Savior taught using simple stories.
Listen with the Spirit so He can help you find the message for you.
"There is enough that doesn't go right in life, so anyone can work themselves into a puddle of pessimism and a mess of melancholy. But I know people who, even when things don't work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These folks are the happiest people I know." ~ Great-Aunt Rose
"God didn't design us to be sad. He created us to have joy! If we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life.... No, it doesn't happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? Seems to me that the best things, like homemade bread or orange marmalade, take patience and work." ~Great-Aunt Rose
Faith leads to hope. And faith and hope can give us confidence that one day everything will make sense, that because of the Savior, all the wrongs will be made right.
"Faith in the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story could have a happy ending." ~Great-Aunt Rose
"Now is part of eternity." ~Great-Aunt Rose
"I exercised faith in God's promises by filling my life with meaningful things." ~Great-Aunt Rose
"You see, everything else in the gospel--all the shoulds and the musts and the thou shalts--lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and help others to solve theirs.... This is what makes us happy." ~Great-Aunt Rose
Meme-worthy:
Meme-worthy, but from a different conference:
Sunday, November 1, 2015
"It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late" by Elder Bradley D. Foster
General Conference October 2015 Study Notes
It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late by Elder Bradley D. Foster Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/its-never-too-early-and-its-never-too-late?lang=eng
Counsel and Teachings:
We cannot let society give our family a makeover in the image of the world.
We must be engaged in “intentional parenting."
Do we recognize that our children are the largest group of investigators of the Church? What must we do to bring about their lasting conversion?
There is a difference between hearing and understanding. If our children merely hear but do not understand the gospel, then the door is left open for Satan to remove these truths from their hearts. However, if we can help them grow roots of deep conversion, then in the heat of the day, when this life gets tough—and it will—the gospel of Jesus Christ can give them something within that cannot be affected from without.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to succeed because really, after all, they were His children before they were ours.
As you pray for guidance, “[The Holy Ghost] will show unto you all things what ye should do” in teaching your children.
His testimony:
Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to live the life of a mortal so that Jesus could say to us, “I’ve been where you are, I know what comes next, and I’ll help you through it.” I know He will.
Meme-worthy:
It’s never too early and it’s never too late to lead, guide, and walk beside our children, because families are forever.
It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late by Elder Bradley D. Foster Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/its-never-too-early-and-its-never-too-late?lang=eng
Counsel and Teachings:
We cannot let society give our family a makeover in the image of the world.
We must be engaged in “intentional parenting."
Do we recognize that our children are the largest group of investigators of the Church? What must we do to bring about their lasting conversion?
There is a difference between hearing and understanding. If our children merely hear but do not understand the gospel, then the door is left open for Satan to remove these truths from their hearts. However, if we can help them grow roots of deep conversion, then in the heat of the day, when this life gets tough—and it will—the gospel of Jesus Christ can give them something within that cannot be affected from without.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to succeed because really, after all, they were His children before they were ours.
As you pray for guidance, “[The Holy Ghost] will show unto you all things what ye should do” in teaching your children.
His testimony:
Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to live the life of a mortal so that Jesus could say to us, “I’ve been where you are, I know what comes next, and I’ll help you through it.” I know He will.
Meme-worthy:
It’s never too early and it’s never too late to lead, guide, and walk beside our children, because families are forever.
"Keep the Commandments" by Pres. Thomas S. Monson
General Conference October 2015 Study Notes
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/keep-the-commandments?lang=eng
Keep the Commandments by Pres. Thomas S. Monson Priesthood Session
Great teachings and counsel:
I am confident that each of us has as his ultimate goal life everlasting in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is imperative, therefore, for us to make choices throughout our lives that will lead us to this great goal. We know, however, that the adversary is committed to our failure.
Disregard for the commandments has opened the way for what I consider to be the plagues of our day. They include the plague of permissiveness, the plague of pornography, the plague of drugs, the plague of immorality, and the plague of abortion, to name just a few.
You have heard the messages of the adversary. He cunningly calls: Just this once won’t matter; everyone is doing it; don’t be old-fashioned; times have changed; it can’t hurt anyone; your life is yours to live. The adversary knows us, and he knows the temptations which will be difficult for us to ignore. How vital it is that we exercise constant vigilance in order to avoid giving in to such lies and temptations.
We cannot allow ourselves the slightest bit of leeway in dealing with sin. We cannot allow ourselves to believe that we can participate “just a little” in disobeying the commandments of God, for the sin can grab us with an iron hand from which it is excruciatingly painful to free ourselves.
Throughout our lives we will need to nurture strong testimonies by studying the scriptures and by praying and by pondering the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/keep-the-commandments?lang=eng
Keep the Commandments by Pres. Thomas S. Monson Priesthood Session
Great teachings and counsel:
I am confident that each of us has as his ultimate goal life everlasting in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is imperative, therefore, for us to make choices throughout our lives that will lead us to this great goal. We know, however, that the adversary is committed to our failure.
Disregard for the commandments has opened the way for what I consider to be the plagues of our day. They include the plague of permissiveness, the plague of pornography, the plague of drugs, the plague of immorality, and the plague of abortion, to name just a few.
You have heard the messages of the adversary. He cunningly calls: Just this once won’t matter; everyone is doing it; don’t be old-fashioned; times have changed; it can’t hurt anyone; your life is yours to live. The adversary knows us, and he knows the temptations which will be difficult for us to ignore. How vital it is that we exercise constant vigilance in order to avoid giving in to such lies and temptations.
We cannot allow ourselves the slightest bit of leeway in dealing with sin. We cannot allow ourselves to believe that we can participate “just a little” in disobeying the commandments of God, for the sin can grab us with an iron hand from which it is excruciatingly painful to free ourselves.
Throughout our lives we will need to nurture strong testimonies by studying the scriptures and by praying and by pondering the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
"Your Next Step" by Elder Randall K. Bennett
General Conference October 2015 study notes
Your Next Step by Elder Randall K. Bennett Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/your-next-step?lang=eng
Two essential weekly signposts that mark our journey back to our Father in Heaven are the perpetual covenant of the ordinance of the sacrament and our Sabbath day observance.
action -----> blessing:
when we are willing to act with faith and take another step, especially an uncomfortable step requiring change or repentance, we are blessed with strength:
act in faith ---> strength
faith exercised ---> faith increased
willingness to try and try again ---> progress and success
be willing to act ---> strength to repent and strength to change
faith-filled step ---> help from heaven
love God and keep all of His commandments or just seek to do so --->spiritual gifts
taking the sacrament with a repentant heart and commitment ---> remission of sins and His Spirit to be with us
devoted Sabbath day observance ---> the fulness of the earth
prayer + relying on and follow Him + listening to the Holy Spirit ---> guidance
trust in the Lord's timing ---> wisdom and patience
following the living prophet ---> protection
Because of the Atonement ---> strength
Because of God's grace ---> healing and forgiveness
Meme-worthy:
Our loving Heavenly Father rejoices in each and every faithful step, and if we fall, He rejoices in each effort to get back up and try again.
The Lord more than matches our willingness to act in faith. Our willingness to take a step is not just met; it is exceeded by the Lord's promised blessings.
Our devoted weekly observance of the Sabbath is our sign to the Lord that we love Him.
We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward. We will not, we cannot, fail if we are faithfully yoked to the Savior--He who has never failed and will never fail us!
Your Next Step by Elder Randall K. Bennett Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/your-next-step?lang=eng
Two essential weekly signposts that mark our journey back to our Father in Heaven are the perpetual covenant of the ordinance of the sacrament and our Sabbath day observance.
action -----> blessing:
when we are willing to act with faith and take another step, especially an uncomfortable step requiring change or repentance, we are blessed with strength:
act in faith ---> strength
faith exercised ---> faith increased
willingness to try and try again ---> progress and success
be willing to act ---> strength to repent and strength to change
faith-filled step ---> help from heaven
love God and keep all of His commandments or just seek to do so --->spiritual gifts
taking the sacrament with a repentant heart and commitment ---> remission of sins and His Spirit to be with us
devoted Sabbath day observance ---> the fulness of the earth
prayer + relying on and follow Him + listening to the Holy Spirit ---> guidance
trust in the Lord's timing ---> wisdom and patience
following the living prophet ---> protection
Because of the Atonement ---> strength
Because of God's grace ---> healing and forgiveness
Meme-worthy:
Our loving Heavenly Father rejoices in each and every faithful step, and if we fall, He rejoices in each effort to get back up and try again.
The Lord more than matches our willingness to act in faith. Our willingness to take a step is not just met; it is exceeded by the Lord's promised blessings.
Our devoted weekly observance of the Sabbath is our sign to the Lord that we love Him.
We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward. We will not, we cannot, fail if we are faithfully yoked to the Savior--He who has never failed and will never fail us!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Meeting the Challenges of Today's World by Elder Robert D. Hales
General Conference October 2015 study notes
Meeting the Challenges of Today's World by Elder Robert D. Hales Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng
Good thoughts and counsel:
One of the purposes of the scriptures is to show us how righteous people respond to temptation and evil.... Heaven Father warns [the] believers.
He will help us know whether to fight, flee, or go with the flow of our unfolding circumstances.
When you earn more, save more.
Education puts you in a better position to serve and bless those around you.
Begin exercising your faith in every area of your life.
Conduct a "personal counsel." Ask yourself: "What areas of my life do I want to strengthen so that I can strengthen others? Where do I want to be a year from now? two years from now? What choices do I need to make to get there?" Just remember, you are the pilot, and you are in charge.
You are responsible to think about the consequences of every choice you make. Ask yourself, "If I make this choice, what is the wost thing that could happen?" Your righteous choices will keep you from getting off course.
The right marriage is not only about what I want; it's also about what he/she--who's going to be my companion--wants and needs me to be.
The Lord will keep His promise: "I will lead you along." The only question is, will we let ourselves be led? Will we hear His voice and the voice of His servants?
Meme-worthy:
We need to tighten our grip on the rod that leads us back to Him.
Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm. Instead, fly around it, take another route, or wait for the storm to clear before landing.
If you are there for the Lord, He will be there for you.
None of us marry perfection; we marry potential.
Dating and marriage aren't final destinations. They are the gateway to where you ultimately want to go.
Only your resolve to be obedient can change your life.
Follow the example of the Savior, who simply "went about doing good."
Meeting the Challenges of Today's World by Elder Robert D. Hales Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng
Good thoughts and counsel:
One of the purposes of the scriptures is to show us how righteous people respond to temptation and evil.... Heaven Father warns [the] believers.
He will help us know whether to fight, flee, or go with the flow of our unfolding circumstances.
When you earn more, save more.
Education puts you in a better position to serve and bless those around you.
Begin exercising your faith in every area of your life.
Conduct a "personal counsel." Ask yourself: "What areas of my life do I want to strengthen so that I can strengthen others? Where do I want to be a year from now? two years from now? What choices do I need to make to get there?" Just remember, you are the pilot, and you are in charge.
You are responsible to think about the consequences of every choice you make. Ask yourself, "If I make this choice, what is the wost thing that could happen?" Your righteous choices will keep you from getting off course.
The right marriage is not only about what I want; it's also about what he/she--who's going to be my companion--wants and needs me to be.
The Lord will keep His promise: "I will lead you along." The only question is, will we let ourselves be led? Will we hear His voice and the voice of His servants?
Meme-worthy:
We need to tighten our grip on the rod that leads us back to Him.
Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm. Instead, fly around it, take another route, or wait for the storm to clear before landing.
If you are there for the Lord, He will be there for you.
None of us marry perfection; we marry potential.
Dating and marriage aren't final destinations. They are the gateway to where you ultimately want to go.
Only your resolve to be obedient can change your life.
Follow the example of the Savior, who simply "went about doing good."
Sunday, October 18, 2015
A Plea to my Sisters by Pres. Russell M. Nelson
General Conference October 2015 study notes
A Plea to My Sisters by Pres. Russell M. Nelson Sunday morning session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-plea-to-my-sisters?lang=eng
Qualities or characteristics to seek after:
---gift of discernment
---be able to view the trends of the world and detect those that are shallow or dangerous
---ability to detect deception in all its forms
---faith to make things happen
---courage to defend morality and families
---devotion to shepherding God's children
---personal revelation
---understanding of the power and peace of the temple endowment
---ability to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families
---ability to teach fearlessly and help raise a sin-resistant generation
---bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ
---ability to access God's power through covenant keeping
---ability to express beliefs with confidence and charity
---vision
Counsel with blessing:
Take your rightful and needful place in your home, your community, and in the kingdom of God--more than you ever have before.... as you do so, the Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way.
Warnings:
Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase.
Meme-worthy:
"Are you finished crying? Then get dressed....Go to work! You need to learn more!"
Nothing is more crucial to your eternal life than your own conversion.
A Plea to My Sisters by Pres. Russell M. Nelson Sunday morning session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-plea-to-my-sisters?lang=eng
Qualities or characteristics to seek after:
---gift of discernment
---be able to view the trends of the world and detect those that are shallow or dangerous
---ability to detect deception in all its forms
---faith to make things happen
---courage to defend morality and families
---devotion to shepherding God's children
---personal revelation
---understanding of the power and peace of the temple endowment
---ability to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families
---ability to teach fearlessly and help raise a sin-resistant generation
---bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ
---ability to access God's power through covenant keeping
---ability to express beliefs with confidence and charity
---vision
Counsel with blessing:
Take your rightful and needful place in your home, your community, and in the kingdom of God--more than you ever have before.... as you do so, the Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way.
Warnings:
Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase.
Meme-worthy:
"Are you finished crying? Then get dressed....Go to work! You need to learn more!"
Nothing is more crucial to your eternal life than your own conversion.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Turn to Him and Answers Will Come by Elder James B. Martino
General Conference October 2015 study notes:
Turn to Him and Answers Will Come by Elder James B. Martino Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/turn-to-him-and-answers-will-come?lang=eng
Comparison:
Laman, Lemuel, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni had been raised in righteous families, had gone astray, were called to repentance by an angel, but had different outcomes. After they were called to repentance:
Laman and Lemuel:
murmued
gave up
returned to complaining
refused to pray
Lack of certain spiritual habits seems to have caused them to forget the times when God had spoken to them.
Sons of Mosiah--Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni:
searched the scriptures diligently
prayed
fasted
were obedient
These personal religious habits strengthened them.
Formulas:
Nephi's counsel to his brothers on receiving continual answers to prayer:
soft heart + faith + belief + obedience ---> revelation
and
be obedient + remember the times you felt the Spirit + ask in faith ---> answers and feeling the love and peace of the Savior
daily scripture study ---> opening the doors of revelation
obedience + scripture study + prayer + fasting---> strength from the Lord
disobedience + no prayer, scripture study or fasting ---> being left vulnerable to temptation (to murmur and doubt)
Warnings:
Lack of certain spiritual habits ---> forgetting the times when God has spoken to you
Meme-worthy:
We must have faith with works to receive answers.
Turn to Him and Answers Will Come by Elder James B. Martino Saturday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/turn-to-him-and-answers-will-come?lang=eng
Comparison:
Laman, Lemuel, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni had been raised in righteous families, had gone astray, were called to repentance by an angel, but had different outcomes. After they were called to repentance:
Laman and Lemuel:
murmued
gave up
returned to complaining
refused to pray
Lack of certain spiritual habits seems to have caused them to forget the times when God had spoken to them.
Sons of Mosiah--Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni:
searched the scriptures diligently
prayed
fasted
were obedient
These personal religious habits strengthened them.
Formulas:
Nephi's counsel to his brothers on receiving continual answers to prayer:
soft heart + faith + belief + obedience ---> revelation
and
be obedient + remember the times you felt the Spirit + ask in faith ---> answers and feeling the love and peace of the Savior
daily scripture study ---> opening the doors of revelation
obedience + scripture study + prayer + fasting---> strength from the Lord
disobedience + no prayer, scripture study or fasting ---> being left vulnerable to temptation (to murmur and doubt)
Warnings:
Lack of certain spiritual habits ---> forgetting the times when God has spoken to you
Meme-worthy:
We must have faith with works to receive answers.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God by Elder Von G. Keetch
General Conference October 2015 study notes
"Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God" by Elder Von G. Keetch Sunday afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
Favorite teachings:
We show our love for God—and our faith in Him—by doing our very best every day to follow the course that He has laid out for us and by keeping the commandments that He has given to us. We especially manifest that faith and love in situations where we don’t fully understand the reason for God’s commands or the particular path He is telling us to take.
As
we trust in the Lord, exercise our faith, obey His commandments, and
follow the course He has charted for us, we become more the person the
Lord wants us to become. It is this “becoming”—this conversion of the
heart—that is all-important. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught us: “It
is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The
commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of
deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”
True
obedience, therefore, is giving ourselves entirely to Him and allowing
Him to chart our course both in calm waters and in troubled ones,
understanding that He can make more of us than we could ever make of
ourselves.
Meme-worthy:
Don't be too critical of the barrier. It's the only thing that's keeping you from being devoured.
The Holy Ghost as Your Companion by Pres. Henry B. Eyring
General Conference 2015 Study Notes
The Holy Ghost as Your Companion by Pres. Henry B. Eyring Sunday morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
IF action...THEN blessing:
IF we partake of the sacrament THEN the Holy Ghost will be able to protect us and those we love from the temptations that come with increasing intensity and frequency.
IF we make a constant quest for the Spirit to be with us THEN we will never lack for knowledge of the truth, never be in doubt or in darkness, and our faith will be strong, our joy...full.
WHEN our hearts are full of charity and WHEN virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly THEN the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion.
WHEN you demonstrate your willingness to obey THEN the Spirit will send you more impressions of what God would have you do for Him. AS you obey, THEN the impressions from the Spirit will come more frequently AND your power to choose the right will increase.
By the reception of the Holy Ghost, we be sanctified.
Most important points for me:
---The most valuable inspiration will be for you to know what God would have you do.
---You can know when these impressions to act for Him are from the Spirit rather than from your own desires. When the impressions square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send His Spirit to attend you.
The Holy Ghost as Your Companion by Pres. Henry B. Eyring Sunday morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
IF action...THEN blessing:
IF we partake of the sacrament THEN the Holy Ghost will be able to protect us and those we love from the temptations that come with increasing intensity and frequency.
IF we make a constant quest for the Spirit to be with us THEN we will never lack for knowledge of the truth, never be in doubt or in darkness, and our faith will be strong, our joy...full.
WHEN our hearts are full of charity and WHEN virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly THEN the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion.
WHEN you demonstrate your willingness to obey THEN the Spirit will send you more impressions of what God would have you do for Him. AS you obey, THEN the impressions from the Spirit will come more frequently AND your power to choose the right will increase.
By the reception of the Holy Ghost, we be sanctified.
Most important points for me:
---The most valuable inspiration will be for you to know what God would have you do.
---You can know when these impressions to act for Him are from the Spirit rather than from your own desires. When the impressions square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send His Spirit to attend you.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
My Heart Pondereth Them Continually by Elder Devin G. Durrant
General Conference October 2015 Study Notes:
My Heart Pondereth Them Continually by Elder Devin G. Durrant Sunday Afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
He asked us to:
-save money each week
-"ponderize" one verse of scripture each week
-never let ponderizing replace scripture study
Promised blessings:
-we will have:
-a deeper understanding of gospel principles
-an uplifting place for our thoughts to go
-new spiritual perspectives
-words and phrases written on our hearts
-added revelation
-opportunities to assist others financially
-memorization will take place easily and naturally
-we will always remember Him--no room for filth and trash in our minds
Ask yourself:
-Is there something you need to be doing today to prepare yourself spiritually for future opportunities to teach and bless your family and others?
Meme-worthy:
-Don't be deterred. Hard can be good.
-Exercise your faith, discipline yourself, and do it.
My Heart Pondereth Them Continually by Elder Devin G. Durrant Sunday Afternoon session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
He asked us to:
-save money each week
-"ponderize" one verse of scripture each week
-never let ponderizing replace scripture study
Promised blessings:
-we will have:
-a deeper understanding of gospel principles
-an uplifting place for our thoughts to go
-new spiritual perspectives
-words and phrases written on our hearts
-added revelation
-opportunities to assist others financially
-memorization will take place easily and naturally
-we will always remember Him--no room for filth and trash in our minds
Ask yourself:
-Is there something you need to be doing today to prepare yourself spiritually for future opportunities to teach and bless your family and others?
Meme-worthy:
-Don't be deterred. Hard can be good.
-Exercise your faith, discipline yourself, and do it.
What Lack I Yet? by Elder Larry R. Lawrence
October 2015 Conference Study Notes:
What Lack I Yet? by Elder Larry R. Lawrence Saturday morning session:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
He asked us to:
-Humbly ask the Lord the following questions:
-What is keeping me from progressing?
-What lack I yet?
Other questions:
-What weaknesses need strengthening?
-What can I do to improve my life?
-What am I doing right?
Teachings:
-The Holy Ghost doesn't tell us to improve everything at once.... The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time... and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts,... for unto him that receiveth I will give more.
-Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged.
Meme-worthy:
-To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed.
What Lack I Yet? by Elder Larry R. Lawrence Saturday morning session:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng
He asked us to:
-Humbly ask the Lord the following questions:
-What is keeping me from progressing?
-What lack I yet?
Other questions:
-What weaknesses need strengthening?
-What can I do to improve my life?
-What am I doing right?
Teachings:
-The Holy Ghost doesn't tell us to improve everything at once.... The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time... and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts,... for unto him that receiveth I will give more.
-Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged.
Meme-worthy:
-To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed.
It Works Wonderfully! by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf
General Conference October 2015 Study Notes:
It Works Wonderfully! by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Saturday morning session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/it-works-wonderfully?lang=eng
He asked us to:
-ponder our progress and evaluate how things are working for us
-focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel
-simplify
He warned us about:
-chasing after shadows
-making our discipleship too complicated
-gilding the lily with layers of man-made good ideas, programs, and expectations
Ponder:
-Is my experience with the church bringing me closer to Christ?
Meme-worthy:
-Exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey.
It Works Wonderfully! by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Saturday morning session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/it-works-wonderfully?lang=eng
He asked us to:
-ponder our progress and evaluate how things are working for us
-focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel
-simplify
He warned us about:
-chasing after shadows
-making our discipleship too complicated
-gilding the lily with layers of man-made good ideas, programs, and expectations
Ponder:
-Is my experience with the church bringing me closer to Christ?
Meme-worthy:
-Exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Quote about how your life experiences prepare you for your callings
I like this story that happened to a friend of ours, Yves Perrin, who was called to be a mission president in Tahiti. He went to our neighbor Elder James M. Paramore for a chat one afternoon and asked him a question. “Elder Paramore, was I called to be the mission president in Tahiti because I am a native French speaker, was already a missionary in Tahiti and was once a principal of a school there?” Elder Paramore answered that he had it wrong. He spoke French, was a missionary to Tahiti and had been a principal of a school there because he was going to be called to be a mission president there.
Fromhttp://ldsmag.com/4-things-to-understand-about-choosing-an-apostle/
Fromhttp://ldsmag.com/4-things-to-understand-about-choosing-an-apostle/
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Lesson 26: Gen 19
Lesson 26: Genesis 19
I. Genesis 19:1–29
Holy messengers remove Lot’s family from Sodom before God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah
---(on board before class) Have you ever heard of someone who had something bad happen to them because they were in the wrong place or with people who were making inappropriate choices?
---Think about the question on the board as you study Genesis 19.
---Remember that three holy messengers had visited Abraham on their way to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their wicked inhabitants.
---Genesis 19:1 silently and look for who these three messengers met when they arrived in Sodom. Report. (The messengers met Lot, Abraham’s nephew.)
---According to the Joseph Smith Translation (see Genesis 19:1, footnote a), there were three messengers, not two.
---Explain what you know about Lot and his family from Gen 13–14 and what you know about Sodom from Gen 18.
---Summary Genesis 19:2–3 Lot invited the three messengers to stay at his home for the night so they would not have to remain in the streets of Sodom. Ponder how they treat those whom the Lord sends to help us forsake sin and unrighteous influences.
---Genesis 19:4–7 looking for what the men of Sodom did that evening.
---What did the men of Sodom request of Lot? (“that we may know them” = they wanted to participate in sexual activities with Lot’s visitors [see Genesis 19:5, footnote a; see also Genesis 4:1].)
---The Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 (in the Bible appendix) clarifies the events recorded in Genesis 19:8–10.
---Summary Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–1: The men of Sodom became angry with Lot when he refused their evil intentions toward his guests. The men of Sodom then threatened to take by force not only Lot’s visitors (the holy men) but also his daughters for immoral purposes. When Lot tried to reason with the men of Sodom, they attempted to force their way into his house. The holy messengers miraculously protected Lot and his family by smiting the men with blindness (see Genesis 19:11).
---How do the actions of the men of Sodom help demonstrate the wickedness of the people in this city?
---Genesis 19:12–13 looking for what the holy men instructed Lot to do with his family. Report.
---Genesis 19:14–16 look for how Lot and his family responded to the instructions from the holy men.
---What evidence do you see in these verses that Lot and his family were reluctant to leave Sodom?
---Genesis 19:17 identify additional instructions the holy men gave to Lot and his family.
---Genesis 19:24–26 look for what happened as Lot was leaving Sodom with his wife and daughters. Report.
---To help understand why Lot’s wife was turned into a “pillar of salt” (verse 26):
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“Apparently what was wrong with Lot’s wife was that she wasn’t just looking back; in her heart she wanted to go back. …
“It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind” (“Remember Lot’s Wife” [Brigham Young University devotional address, Jan. 13, 2009], 2; speeches.byu.edu).
---According to Elder Holland, what are some possible reasons why Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt?
---It is also possible that Lot’s wife may not have merely looked back but may have returned to Sodom (see Luke 17:28–32).
---This account of Lot and his family leaving Sodom can be compared to our own experience of forsaking sin and evil influences.
---What principles can we learn from the example of Lot’s wife about forsaking sin and evil influences? (To forsake sin and evil influences, we must leave them entirely and not look back.)
---What are some ways a person might be tempted to “look back” upon sins or evil influences that were previously a part of his or her life? Why is it dangerous to do so?
---What are some things a person can do to leave sins or evil influences entirely behind?
II. Genesis 19:30–38 Lot’s daughters devise a wicked plan to ensure the continuation of Lot’s posterity
---Summary Genesis 19:30–38 After Sodom, Gomorrah, and other cities were destroyed, Lot and his two daughters went to a nearby mountain to live in a cave. In an effort to preserve the seed of their father, the firstborn daughter proposed a wicked and deceptive plan to intoxicate their father and lie with him so they could each become pregnant (see Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:37 [in Genesis 19:31, footnote a]; see also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:39 [in Genesis 19:35, footnote a]). As a result of this wickedness, each daughter had a son. The sons’ descendants became the Moabite and Ammonite nations. There is no justification for Lot’s daughters’ choice to break the law of chastity. The actions of Lot’s daughters may provide another example of how the wickedness in Sodom had negatively influenced members of Lot’s family. Although Lot was not a wicked man, his decision to bring his family to live among evil influences resulted in serious consequences.
---What are some consequences Lot and his family experienced for choosing to live in Sodom?
---How do you think life might have been different for Lot and his family if he had not chosen to associate with Sodom and the other wicked cities in the plains?
---What principles can we learn from Lot’s decisions to place himself and his family close to unrighteous influences? (If we choose to associate with unrighteous influences, then we may experience consequences we will regret. Our choices may affect not only ourselves but others as well.)
---List on the board examples of unrighteous influences that some young people choose to associate with in our day.
---What are some consequences that can come to us personally from associating with these unrighteous influences? What are some consequences that might affect others?
---Bishop Gary E. Stevenson [SHOW VIDEO CLIP “Leave the Party” instead]
“Some years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious Japanese university. …
“Soon after John’s arrival, word of a party to be held on the rooftop of a private residence spread among the foreign student population. That evening, John and two friends made their way to the advertised address.
“Following an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, John and his friends … began mingling with the others. As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed. The noise, music volume, and alcohol amplified, as did John’s uneasiness. Then suddenly someone began organizing the students into a large circle with the intent of sharing marijuana cigarettes. John grimaced and quickly informed his two friends that it was time to leave. Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, ‘John, this is easy—we’ll just stand in the circle, and when it is our turn, we’ll just pass it along rather than smoke it. That way we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in front of everyone by leaving.’ This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound right. He knew he had to announce his intention and act. In a moment he mustered his courage and told them that they could do as they wished, but he was leaving. One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other reluctantly followed John down the stairs to board the elevator. Much to their surprise, when the elevator doors opened, Japanese police officers poured out and hurried to ascend the stairs to the rooftop. John and his friend boarded the elevator and departed.
“When the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the students quickly threw the illegal drugs off the roof so they wouldn’t be caught. After securing the stairway, however, the officers lined up everyone on the roof and asked each student to extend both hands. The officers then walked down the line, carefully smelling each student’s thumbs and index fingers. All who had held the marijuana, whether they had smoked it or not, were presumed guilty, and there were huge consequences. Almost without exception, the students who had remained on the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities. …
“… As for John, the consequences in his life have been immeasurable. His time in Japan that year led him to a happy marriage and the subsequent birth of two sons. He has been a very successful businessman and recently became a professor at a Japanese university. Imagine how different his life would have been had he not had the courage to leave the party on that important evening in Japan. …
“… There will be times when you, like John, will have to demonstrate your righteous courage in plain view of your peers, the consequence of which may be ridicule and embarrassment. … Be courageous! Be strong!” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012
---Invite students to testify of the principles they have discovered today.
---Share your testimony as well, and encourage students to entirely leave behind any sins or evil influences that may be influencing them.
Commentary and Background Information
Genesis 19:8–10 or Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 (in the Bible appendix). Lot reasons with the men of Sodom
Note: Not all of the Joseph Smith Translation additions or corrections are contained in the footnotes or appendix of the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version of the Bible. Many of these changes were not included because of limited space.
Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 clarifies the events recorded in Genesis 19:8–10. (Below, the bold-italic text represents material added by the Prophet Joseph Smith; the crossed-out text represents material he removed.)
“And they said unto him, Stand back. And they were angry with him.
“And they said again among themselves, This one fellow man came in to sojourn among us, and he will needs be now make himself to be a judge; now we will deal worse with thee, him than with them.
“Wherefore they said unto the man, We will have the men, and thy daughters also; and we will do with them as seemeth us good.
“Now this was after the wickedness of Sodom.
“And Lot said, Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, plead with my brethren that I may not bring them out unto you; and ye shall not do ye to unto them as is seemeth good in your eyes;
“For God will not justify his servant in this thing; wherefore, let me plead with my brethren, this once only, that unto these men ye do nothing, that they may have peace in my house; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
“And they pressed sore upon the man, even were angry with Lot and came near to break the door, but the angels of God, which were holy men, put forth their hand and pulled Lot into the house unto them, and shut to the door” (Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15; bold, italics, and strikethrough added).
Genesis 19:26. “His wife looked back”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how to look to the future with faith instead of doubt:
“I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. So a more theological way to talk about Lot’s wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently she thought—fatally, as it turned out—that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind” (“Remember Lot’s Wife” [Brigham Young University devotional address, Jan. 13, 2009], 2–3; speeches.byu.edu).
President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles related the following experience of President Joseph Fielding Smith:
“President Joseph Fielding Smith told me of a repentant woman struggling to find her way out of a very immoral life. She asked him what she should do now.
“In turn, he asked her to read to him from the Old Testament the account of Lot’s wife, who was turned to a pillar of salt [see Genesis 19:26]. Then he asked her, ‘What lesson do you gain from those verses?’
“She answered, ‘The Lord will destroy the wicked.’
“‘Not so!’ President Smith said that the lesson for this repentant woman and for you is ‘Don’t look back!’ [see Boyd K. Packer, The Things of the Soul (1996), 116].
“Strangely enough, it may be that the simplest and most powerful prevention and cure for pornography, or any unclean act, is to ignore and avoid it. Delete from the mind any unworthy thought that tries to take root. Once you have decided to remain clean, you are asserting your God-given agency. And then, as President Smith counseled, ‘Don’t look back’” (“Cleansing the Inner Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 76–77).
President Joseph F. Smith declared:
“True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them [sins], a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 61).
Genesis 19:26. Lot’s wife and the pillar of salt
For a discussion of whether Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt was a literal event or a figurative expression, see the material in the Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis–2 Samuel, 3rd ed. (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 76–77.
Supplemental Teaching Ideas
Genesis 19. Choosing to live in Sodom had serious consequences for Lot’s family
To begin the lesson (or to illustrate that if we choose to associate with unrighteous influences, then we may experience consequences we regret), consider using the following object lesson:
Place two magnets on a table and ask a student to move one of them as close as possible to the other without them touching. After the magnets stick together, ask students what often happens to us when we move closer to evil influences and temptation in our lives. If possible, turn just one of the magnets to reverse the magnetic field. Then invite the student to move one magnet close to the other. After the magnets repel each other, ask students what we can do to distance ourselves from evil influences or things we know are tempting.
If you use this idea at the beginning of the lesson, consider asking students to watch, as they study Genesis 19, for some consequences Lot’s family experienced because they chose to live among evil influences and temptations.
If you use this idea after students identify the principle, consider asking the following questions:
•
How does this illustration apply to what we have learned about Lot and his family in Sodom? How might it apply to Abraham?
•
What are some ways we can keep our distance from evil influences and temptations?
I. Genesis 19:1–29
Holy messengers remove Lot’s family from Sodom before God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah
---(on board before class) Have you ever heard of someone who had something bad happen to them because they were in the wrong place or with people who were making inappropriate choices?
---Think about the question on the board as you study Genesis 19.
---Remember that three holy messengers had visited Abraham on their way to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their wicked inhabitants.
---Genesis 19:1 silently and look for who these three messengers met when they arrived in Sodom. Report. (The messengers met Lot, Abraham’s nephew.)
---According to the Joseph Smith Translation (see Genesis 19:1, footnote a), there were three messengers, not two.
---Explain what you know about Lot and his family from Gen 13–14 and what you know about Sodom from Gen 18.
---Summary Genesis 19:2–3 Lot invited the three messengers to stay at his home for the night so they would not have to remain in the streets of Sodom. Ponder how they treat those whom the Lord sends to help us forsake sin and unrighteous influences.
---Genesis 19:4–7 looking for what the men of Sodom did that evening.
---What did the men of Sodom request of Lot? (“that we may know them” = they wanted to participate in sexual activities with Lot’s visitors [see Genesis 19:5, footnote a; see also Genesis 4:1].)
---The Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 (in the Bible appendix) clarifies the events recorded in Genesis 19:8–10.
---Summary Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–1: The men of Sodom became angry with Lot when he refused their evil intentions toward his guests. The men of Sodom then threatened to take by force not only Lot’s visitors (the holy men) but also his daughters for immoral purposes. When Lot tried to reason with the men of Sodom, they attempted to force their way into his house. The holy messengers miraculously protected Lot and his family by smiting the men with blindness (see Genesis 19:11).
---How do the actions of the men of Sodom help demonstrate the wickedness of the people in this city?
---Genesis 19:12–13 looking for what the holy men instructed Lot to do with his family. Report.
---Genesis 19:14–16 look for how Lot and his family responded to the instructions from the holy men.
---What evidence do you see in these verses that Lot and his family were reluctant to leave Sodom?
---Genesis 19:17 identify additional instructions the holy men gave to Lot and his family.
---Genesis 19:24–26 look for what happened as Lot was leaving Sodom with his wife and daughters. Report.
---To help understand why Lot’s wife was turned into a “pillar of salt” (verse 26):
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“Apparently what was wrong with Lot’s wife was that she wasn’t just looking back; in her heart she wanted to go back. …
“It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind” (“Remember Lot’s Wife” [Brigham Young University devotional address, Jan. 13, 2009], 2; speeches.byu.edu).
---According to Elder Holland, what are some possible reasons why Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt?
---It is also possible that Lot’s wife may not have merely looked back but may have returned to Sodom (see Luke 17:28–32).
---This account of Lot and his family leaving Sodom can be compared to our own experience of forsaking sin and evil influences.
---What principles can we learn from the example of Lot’s wife about forsaking sin and evil influences? (To forsake sin and evil influences, we must leave them entirely and not look back.)
---What are some ways a person might be tempted to “look back” upon sins or evil influences that were previously a part of his or her life? Why is it dangerous to do so?
---What are some things a person can do to leave sins or evil influences entirely behind?
II. Genesis 19:30–38 Lot’s daughters devise a wicked plan to ensure the continuation of Lot’s posterity
---Summary Genesis 19:30–38 After Sodom, Gomorrah, and other cities were destroyed, Lot and his two daughters went to a nearby mountain to live in a cave. In an effort to preserve the seed of their father, the firstborn daughter proposed a wicked and deceptive plan to intoxicate their father and lie with him so they could each become pregnant (see Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:37 [in Genesis 19:31, footnote a]; see also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:39 [in Genesis 19:35, footnote a]). As a result of this wickedness, each daughter had a son. The sons’ descendants became the Moabite and Ammonite nations. There is no justification for Lot’s daughters’ choice to break the law of chastity. The actions of Lot’s daughters may provide another example of how the wickedness in Sodom had negatively influenced members of Lot’s family. Although Lot was not a wicked man, his decision to bring his family to live among evil influences resulted in serious consequences.
---What are some consequences Lot and his family experienced for choosing to live in Sodom?
---How do you think life might have been different for Lot and his family if he had not chosen to associate with Sodom and the other wicked cities in the plains?
---What principles can we learn from Lot’s decisions to place himself and his family close to unrighteous influences? (If we choose to associate with unrighteous influences, then we may experience consequences we will regret. Our choices may affect not only ourselves but others as well.)
---List on the board examples of unrighteous influences that some young people choose to associate with in our day.
---What are some consequences that can come to us personally from associating with these unrighteous influences? What are some consequences that might affect others?
---Bishop Gary E. Stevenson [SHOW VIDEO CLIP “Leave the Party” instead]
“Some years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious Japanese university. …
“Soon after John’s arrival, word of a party to be held on the rooftop of a private residence spread among the foreign student population. That evening, John and two friends made their way to the advertised address.
“Following an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, John and his friends … began mingling with the others. As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed. The noise, music volume, and alcohol amplified, as did John’s uneasiness. Then suddenly someone began organizing the students into a large circle with the intent of sharing marijuana cigarettes. John grimaced and quickly informed his two friends that it was time to leave. Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, ‘John, this is easy—we’ll just stand in the circle, and when it is our turn, we’ll just pass it along rather than smoke it. That way we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in front of everyone by leaving.’ This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound right. He knew he had to announce his intention and act. In a moment he mustered his courage and told them that they could do as they wished, but he was leaving. One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other reluctantly followed John down the stairs to board the elevator. Much to their surprise, when the elevator doors opened, Japanese police officers poured out and hurried to ascend the stairs to the rooftop. John and his friend boarded the elevator and departed.
“When the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the students quickly threw the illegal drugs off the roof so they wouldn’t be caught. After securing the stairway, however, the officers lined up everyone on the roof and asked each student to extend both hands. The officers then walked down the line, carefully smelling each student’s thumbs and index fingers. All who had held the marijuana, whether they had smoked it or not, were presumed guilty, and there were huge consequences. Almost without exception, the students who had remained on the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities. …
“… As for John, the consequences in his life have been immeasurable. His time in Japan that year led him to a happy marriage and the subsequent birth of two sons. He has been a very successful businessman and recently became a professor at a Japanese university. Imagine how different his life would have been had he not had the courage to leave the party on that important evening in Japan. …
“… There will be times when you, like John, will have to demonstrate your righteous courage in plain view of your peers, the consequence of which may be ridicule and embarrassment. … Be courageous! Be strong!” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012
---Invite students to testify of the principles they have discovered today.
---Share your testimony as well, and encourage students to entirely leave behind any sins or evil influences that may be influencing them.
Commentary and Background Information
Genesis 19:8–10 or Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 (in the Bible appendix). Lot reasons with the men of Sodom
Note: Not all of the Joseph Smith Translation additions or corrections are contained in the footnotes or appendix of the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version of the Bible. Many of these changes were not included because of limited space.
Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 clarifies the events recorded in Genesis 19:8–10. (Below, the bold-italic text represents material added by the Prophet Joseph Smith; the crossed-out text represents material he removed.)
“And they said unto him, Stand back. And they were angry with him.
“And they said again among themselves, This one fellow man came in to sojourn among us, and he will needs be now make himself to be a judge; now we will deal worse with thee, him than with them.
“Wherefore they said unto the man, We will have the men, and thy daughters also; and we will do with them as seemeth us good.
“Now this was after the wickedness of Sodom.
“And Lot said, Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, plead with my brethren that I may not bring them out unto you; and ye shall not do ye to unto them as is seemeth good in your eyes;
“For God will not justify his servant in this thing; wherefore, let me plead with my brethren, this once only, that unto these men ye do nothing, that they may have peace in my house; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
“And they pressed sore upon the man, even were angry with Lot and came near to break the door, but the angels of God, which were holy men, put forth their hand and pulled Lot into the house unto them, and shut to the door” (Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15; bold, italics, and strikethrough added).
Genesis 19:26. “His wife looked back”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how to look to the future with faith instead of doubt:
“I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. So a more theological way to talk about Lot’s wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently she thought—fatally, as it turned out—that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind” (“Remember Lot’s Wife” [Brigham Young University devotional address, Jan. 13, 2009], 2–3; speeches.byu.edu).
President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles related the following experience of President Joseph Fielding Smith:
“President Joseph Fielding Smith told me of a repentant woman struggling to find her way out of a very immoral life. She asked him what she should do now.
“In turn, he asked her to read to him from the Old Testament the account of Lot’s wife, who was turned to a pillar of salt [see Genesis 19:26]. Then he asked her, ‘What lesson do you gain from those verses?’
“She answered, ‘The Lord will destroy the wicked.’
“‘Not so!’ President Smith said that the lesson for this repentant woman and for you is ‘Don’t look back!’ [see Boyd K. Packer, The Things of the Soul (1996), 116].
“Strangely enough, it may be that the simplest and most powerful prevention and cure for pornography, or any unclean act, is to ignore and avoid it. Delete from the mind any unworthy thought that tries to take root. Once you have decided to remain clean, you are asserting your God-given agency. And then, as President Smith counseled, ‘Don’t look back’” (“Cleansing the Inner Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 76–77).
President Joseph F. Smith declared:
“True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them [sins], a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 61).
Genesis 19:26. Lot’s wife and the pillar of salt
For a discussion of whether Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt was a literal event or a figurative expression, see the material in the Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis–2 Samuel, 3rd ed. (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 76–77.
Supplemental Teaching Ideas
Genesis 19. Choosing to live in Sodom had serious consequences for Lot’s family
To begin the lesson (or to illustrate that if we choose to associate with unrighteous influences, then we may experience consequences we regret), consider using the following object lesson:
Place two magnets on a table and ask a student to move one of them as close as possible to the other without them touching. After the magnets stick together, ask students what often happens to us when we move closer to evil influences and temptation in our lives. If possible, turn just one of the magnets to reverse the magnetic field. Then invite the student to move one magnet close to the other. After the magnets repel each other, ask students what we can do to distance ourselves from evil influences or things we know are tempting.
If you use this idea at the beginning of the lesson, consider asking students to watch, as they study Genesis 19, for some consequences Lot’s family experienced because they chose to live among evil influences and temptations.
If you use this idea after students identify the principle, consider asking the following questions:
•
How does this illustration apply to what we have learned about Lot and his family in Sodom? How might it apply to Abraham?
•
What are some ways we can keep our distance from evil influences and temptations?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)