I Wish I Could Repent More!

Today's instructor said, when you pray and try to seek to be like Christ you will get things given to you like knowledge to comfort and strengthen you. But you also get chastened!  Don't worry, that is as appropriate an answer to the prayer and it is designed, like the other answers, to promote our happiness.  It is all the Plan of Happiness.

We need to bear in mind that PEOPLE CAN CHANGE.  President T. S. Monson charges that we must develop the capacity to see others, not as they are at present, but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ. The last point in the lesson was that this change is often gradual and subtle.  Sure, each standard work has a dramatic example of dramatic change: that gives us confidence in the power to change. But often we are less dramatic; like the 3rd Nephi Lamanites whose quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment who the Lord said, "were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." 3 Ne 9:20

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums. 

The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.”

― Ezra Taft Benson


We have every reason for a great hope because we have a God on our side.
This week's study leads us to meditate on that great Reason for our Hope as we discuss next week (Click here for Teachings of Presidents of the Church- EZra Taft Benson Lesson 6: ) Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer.

Study well, Do well, Be well.

Easter is Coming!

Easter is coming!

My Catholic friends are busy in a special focus on fasting, prayer and good works as they observe Lent. Some European Christians will be observing "Mothering Sunday" where it was said that domestic servants could have the rare luxury of visiting their "Mother's church" with their own mothers and family members. The Jews will be celebrating deliverance by observing Purim and Passover this season.  And of course we have Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday all to help us reflect and rejoice that the King of Kings and Savior of the World fulfilled the prophesies of bringing deliverance from death and sin to the family of Man.

With attention on deliverance its a good time to talk about repentance and forgiveness.  We talked a few weeks ago regarding an LDS Gen Conference address suggesting six practical actions to increase spiritual confidence.  Two of those confidence promoting behaviors were becoming "really, really good" at both repenting and forgiving.

This Sunday we will talk on the plan of happiness tool repenting.  Read and think about the deliberate choice of repenting. Coming soon to a theater near you, is a pretty dramatic story of deliberate forgiveness.  My experience is that though not always as dramatic (though sometimes it is!), repenting and forgiving is always deliberate.

Also, last week, we got to spend time with our good Bishop Brown. He talked about missionaries, their work and using their IPads for good.  He also somberly reiterated the dangers of pornography but gave encouraging counsel to talk openly and discuss defensive strategies with each other and with our children.

We love you and hope you are filled with all the hope these upcoming Spring celebrations have to offer!

Family Fireside.....Feb 22 at 7pm

This Fireside  is for the entire Family, but is intended for our youth.  Va will be talking about picking good friends and getting prepared to go on missions.  Please invite any family or friends that would like to attend.  It is defiantly going to be a Fireside to remember!!

Living Joyfully :) in Troubled Times:( ETB Lsn 4

"I hope you feel the spirit. I hope you feel loved. I hope you feel sisterhood."  Today's lesson covers a tricky charge: "Try and live calmly and cheerfully... Happiness must be earned day to day.  But it is worth the effort." (ToPotC, ETB p,72).

Trials come as a result of your own choice, another's choice or just natural Earth-type conditions of living in a fallen world.  It was mentioned in the lesson that trials often bring you something you might not have otherwise (for example, having gone through an excruciating painful trial, you might find yourself as having acute empathy and compassion to other people's pain).

The final section in the lesson includes one of the greatest epiphanies that can happen to a person: the realization that Heavenly Father wants us to be happy.

Rock star drummer Elaine Bradley "I'm a Mormon"

He loves us all better than we know.

Take care of each other out there. Relief Society out. Beep.

Prayers are needed....

Prayers are needed for Edward Peterson, newborn son of Thomas and Kenzie Peterson and grandson of Ed and Tracie Peterson.  Edward has an infection and the family would appreciate prayers on his behalf...Thanks

The Great Plan of Liberty

Hi Sisters!

Sunday's lesson was Ezra-Taft-Benson/chapter-3-freedom-of-choice-an-eternal-principle.

We had a good discussion of cookie dough that takes 3 days to make. Delicious.

We also talked about this Freedom of choice business:

Photo courtesy of the crazy creative Karen Petitt 

The scriptures make clear that there was a great war in heaven, a struggle over the principle of freedom, the right of choice. (See Moses 4:1–4; D&C 29:36–38; 76:25–27; Rev. 12:7–9.)¹³

The war that began in heaven over this issue is not yet over. The conflict continues on the battlefield of mortality.¹⁴

Freedom of choice is a God-given eternal principle. The great plan of liberty is the plan of the gospel. There is no coercion about it; no force, no intimidation. A man is free to accept the gospel or reject it. He may accept it and then refuse to live it, or he may accept it and live it fully. But God will never force us to live the gospel. He will use persuasion through His servants. He will call us and He will direct us and He will persuade us and encourage us and He will bless us when we respond, but He will never force the human mind. (See Hymns, 1985, no. 240.)¹⁵

A few more interesting (imo) points from the lesson:
--There are boundaries beyond which Satan cannot go (p. 62)
--The fate of humanity and all civilization hinges on whether man will use his … agency to govern himself or ignore eternal laws at his own peril and reap the consequences. The real issues of today are, therefore, not economic or political. They are spiritual—meaning that man must learn to conform to the laws which God has given to mankind.²⁶
--Pray (open your heart, knock) to make Christ-like decisions (p. 64)
--That He (the Lord) allows wickedness to occur at all is proof of His having given His children their freedom to choose (p. 61)

Next week lesson is Ezra-Taft-Benson/chapter-4-living-joyfully-in-troubled-times. Hope to see you all there.

1 Feb RS Events and Lesson

Happy February!

Listed below are some upcoming events and a link to today's lesson:

-Sunday, 22 Feb: Family Fireside, 7pm at Steeplechase Bldg.
-Wednesday, 25 Mar: RS Birthday Dinner, 6pm at Steeplechase Bldg.

We Are His Hands - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Photo thanks to: jackandjillofalltrades.blogspot.com/2010/04/vt-message-may-2010.html