Today's RS Lesson Recap by Lisa H.

Today's Lesson: Lorenzo Snow: Chapter 6 - "Becoming Perfect Before the Lord: "A Little Better Day by Day" - taught by Lisa Hill

3 nephi 12:48 Therefore I would that ye should be aperfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.    

Often times we feel discouraged not only because we can't be perfect, but in our minds we can't even reach the level of where we want to be, let alone be perfect.  Brad Wilcox in his BYU devotional talk "His Grace is Sufficient" talks about how we need to not think of it as two separate parts, but that Christ fills the entire gap.  He gives the example of a mother paying for piano lessons.  When we practice, it's not as if we are paying her back, but we are changing ourselves and showing appreciation for what she has done.  We need to change in order to be comfortable in the presence of God.  

President Snow teaches that when the early Saints follow the commandment to leave the land of their fathers, and leave their families, that as far as they complied with this requirement, they were as perfect as men could be in the circumstances and in the sphere that they were acting.  They weren't perfect in knowledge or power, but in their integrity, their motives, and their determination.  pg 97.

He also teaches that when we are subservient to the will of God, and have no will of our own except to do His will in all things, such a man in his sphere is perfect and commands the blessing of God in all that He does.  

President Snow says we must also not allow ourselves to be discouraged when we discover our weaknesses, pg. 101 and most of all we need to be PATIENT.  

“Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today.”  pg. 103

This quote is about being patient.  Elder Uchdorf taught in Conference April 2012-“Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter.

Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.

I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.

Patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace, and faith. It means being “willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.” 8 Ultimately, patience means being “firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord” 9 every hour of every day, even when it is hard to do so. In the words of John the Revelator, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and … faith [in] Jesus.” 10

Patience is a process of perfection. The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls. 11 Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls. 12 Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most. This was true in the time of the Savior. It is true in our time as well, for we are commanded in these latter days to “continue in patience until ye are perfected.” 

Remember the BEES-Elder Ballard Oct 2012  It is estimated to produce just one pound of honey, the average hive must collectively visit millions of flowers and travel the equivalent of 2 times around the world.  Over it's short lifetime, a single honeybees contribution of honey is a mere 1/12 of one teaspoon.  So much work, and  the yield is so little, but remember that honey contains all the substances necessary to sustain mortal life, just as the doctrines of the Gospel of Christ is the only way to obtain eternal life. Perfection can be gained, not all at once, but drop by drop.  

The song we didn't have time to listen to was Be Still My Soul.  The words are so appropriate as we learn to be patient with ourselves and rely upon the Lord to strengthen and sustain us.  He already bore the cross of pain and grief.  There is no need for us to carry that weight upon our shoulders.  The Celestial Kindgom will be filled with people, just ordinary men and women who have been made perfect through Jesus the Mediator.  Let Him carry your load.  Let Him help your burdens to be light.

- Lisa

1. 1. Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
   With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
   Leave to thy God to order and provide;
   In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
   Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
   Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. 2. Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
   To guide the future as he has the past.
   Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
   All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
   Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
   His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3. 3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
   When we shall be forever with the Lord,
   When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
   Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
   Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
   All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
   
   
   Thank you, Lisa, for a beautiful lesson that touched each of us. We are thankful to have you as our new RS instructor and for the Spirit that you brought as you taught.

The New and Updated World of Family History

This Thursday the 18th at 7:00 p.m. is the Additional Relief Society Meeting.  The Family History R.S. Committee has prepared a night of Welcome to the World of New and Updated Family History.  There will be three mini classes to rotate through: 1- It's Not Your Granny's Family Tree  2- Getting YOUR Family into YOUR History  3- Internet 101.  There will also be internet available so you can bring your laptop or other internet accessible device for hands on learning.  

****Homework: If you are bringing internet accessible device please come with your LDS.org login ID and Password ready to go.  For your membership number contact Bro. Ivie.  If you have already have and LDS.org ID but can't remember and have trouble signing in contact Sis. Rita Isabell.****

A light refreshment will be available after the activity.  Watch for the SignUp Genius email so you can sign up to bring and share one of your Family Recipes!!!!!

If you have any questions please contact me or Rita Isabell.

Hope to see you all there!

General Conference This Weekend

President Eyring: April Presidency Message

He Is Risen

A testimony of the reality of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a source of both hope and determination. And it can be so for any child of God. It was for me on a summer day in June 1969 when my mother died, it has been all the years since, and it will be until I see her again.

Sadness from the temporary separation was immediately replaced with happiness. It was more than a hope for a happy reunion. Because the Lord has revealed so much through His prophets and because the Holy Ghosthas confirmed the truth of the Resurrection to me, I can see in my mind what it will be like to be reunited with our sanctified and resurrected loved ones:

“These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. …

“These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christare the judge of all.

“These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood” (D&C 76:65, 68–69).

Because Jesus Christ broke the bands of death, all of the children of Heavenly Father born into the world will be resurrected in a body that will never die. So my testimony and yours of that glorious truth can take away the sting of the loss of a beloved family member or friend and replace it with joyful anticipation and firm determination.

The Lord has given all of us the gift of resurrection, whereby our spirits are placed in bodies free of physical imperfections (see Alma 11:42–44). My mother will appear young and radiant, the effects of age and years of physical suffering removed. That will come to her and to us as a gift.

But those of us who long to be with her forever must make choices to qualify for that association, to live where the Father and His Beloved resurrected Son dwell in glory. That is the only place where family life can continue eternally. A testimony of that truth has increased my determination to qualify myself and those I love for the highest degree of the celestial kingdom through the Atonement of Jesus Christ working in our lives (see D&C 76:70).

The Lord offers us a guide in this quest for eternal life in the sacramental prayers that help me and can help you. We are invited to renew our baptismal covenants in every sacrament meeting.

We promise to always remember the Savior. The emblems of His sacrifice help us appreciate the magnitude of the price He paid to break the bands of death, to offer us mercy, and to provide forgiveness of all our sins if we choose to repent.

We promise to keep His commandments. Reading the scriptures and the words of the living prophets and listening to inspired speakers in our sacrament meetings remind us of our covenants to do so. The Holy Ghost brings to our minds and hearts the commandments we most need to keep that day.

In the sacramental prayers, God promises to send the Holy Ghost to be with us (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2; D&C 20:77, 79). I have found in that moment that God can give me what feels like a personal interview. He brings to my attention what I have done that pleases Him, my need for repentance and forgiveness, and the names and faces of people He would have me serve for Him.

Over the years, that repeated experience has turned hope into feelings of charity and brought an assurance that mercy was unlocked for me by the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection.

I testify that Jesus is the risen Christ, our Savior, and our perfect example and guide to eternal life.

Teaching from This Message

We should “liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23). Consider reading the sacrament prayers, found in Doctrine and Covenants 20:76–79. After reading President Eyring’s teachings about the sacrament prayers, you may want to invite those you are teaching to think of ways that these prayers can guide their lives and help them return to live again with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Youth

Your Personal Interview with God

President Eyring teaches that as we listen to the sacrament prayers, we can feel like we are having a personal interview with God. President Eyring thinks of the following three areas. Consider writing these questions in your journal and pondering them each Sunday this month. As you ponder and receive impressions from the Holy Ghost, you can also write about those in your journal.

• • 
  What have I done that has pleased God?
• • 
  What do I need to repent of or ask forgiveness for?
• • 
  Whom would God like me to serve?

Children

Always Remember Jesus

Jacob is trying to “always remember” the Savior (D&C 20:77). Look around his bedroom. What do you notice that might help him always remember Jesus?

Illustration by Adam Koford

Benton County Cleanup

Help Needed!

Dear Sisters,

As many of you are aware of, the Bentonville Running Festival offered a fund raising opportunity to our ward.  They requested 50 volunteers to work two water stations and to cheer the runners on during the last mile of the half marathon, which is up the Crystal Bridges hill and through Compton Gardens.  The funds received will be used to help cover the costs of Girls Camp and Scout Camp.  Of course, our ward being the awesome ward that it is, we have our 50 volunteers!

Last night, while I was attending a meeting for all of this, the organizers approached me with another request.  They have had some volunteers back out of their commitments and they are in need of 20 to 30 more people who are 17 years or older that will serve as Street Marshals.  These are the people stationed at intersections to waive the runners on to go in the right direction.  The amount we are receiving for our first 50 volunteers is $1000.  If we can supply 20 Street Marshals, the donation goes up to $1500.  If we supply 30, we will receive $2000. 

So now you know what my next request is. They are asking us to be the Street Marshals for the 5K run.  This involves a 2 hour commitment from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.  Actually, you will probably be finished by 8:00, but to be safe, lets say 8:30.  

If you or any family members can help us out with this, please contact Kathie Cude.