Teaching Helps Save Lives

by Russell T. Osguthorpe
http://lds.org/conference

President Joseph F. Smith said: “When [we receive] the truth [we] will be saved by it. [We] will not be saved merely because someone taught it to [us], but because [we] received and acted upon it”



Elder David A. Bednar shared these three simple elements of effective teaching...: (1) key doctrine, (2) invitation to action, and (3) promised blessings.


As President Monson has taught: “The goal of gospel teaching … is not to ‘‘pour information’’ into the minds of class members. …… The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles””


...taught “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul”. They taught with virtue garnishing their thoughts, and because of that, the Holy Ghost was their constant companion.

1. As a teacher, do I view myself as a messenger from God?


2. Do I prepare and then teach in ways that can help save lives?


3. Do I focus on a key doctrine of the Restoration?


4. Can those I teach feel the love I have for them and for my Heavenly Father and the Savior?


5. When inspiration comes, do I close the manual and open their eyes and their ears and their hearts to the glory of God?


6. Do I invite them to do the work that God has for them to do?


7. Do I express so much confidence in them that they find the invitation hard to refuse?


8. Do I help them recognize promised blessings that come from living the doctrine I am teaching?



Today, I wasn’t sure how to put the FHE lesson together from 2 conference talk in a way that would touch my kids. I used the above 8 questions to format my lesson today and the spirit was amazing as I was giving the lesson. I will be using this in the future.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
http://lds.org/conference

To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.” “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.



The next requirement is to study the matter diligently. This concept was taught to leaders of this restored Church when they were first learning how to gain personal revelation. The Lord instructed them, “I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”


Another prophet taught that “the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”


For each of you to receive revelation unique to your own needs and responsibilities, certain guidelines prevail. The Lord asks you to develop “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God.” Then with your firm “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and] diligence,” you may ask, and you will receive; you may knock, and it will be opened unto you


Revelation from God is always compatible with His eternal law. It never contradicts His doctrine.


Revelation need not all come at once. It may be incremental. “Saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more.” Patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression.

More Diligent and Concerned at Home

Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
http://lds.org/conference

Suggestion Number One: Express Love—and Show It



Brethren and sisters, when was the last time you took your eternal companion in your arms and said, “I love you”? Parents, when was the last time you sincerely expressed love to your children? Children, when was the last time you told your parents that you love them?


As disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more; rather, we need to consistently do more of what we know is right and become better.


We should remember that saying “I love you” is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.


Hopefully the children hear love expressed and see love demonstrated between their parents in the regular routine of daily living.


The relationship between love and appropriate action is demonstrated repeatedly in the scriptures and is highlighted by the Savior’’s instruction to His Apostles: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Just as our love of and for the Lord is evidenced by walking ever in His ways (see Deuteronomy 19:9), so our love for spouse, parents, and children is reflected most powerfully in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds (see Mosiah 4:30).


Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God. Such love is a source of strength and casts out fear (see 1 John 4:18). Such love is the desire of every human soul.


Suggestion Number Two: Bear Testimony—and Live It


We should remember that bearing a heartfelt testimony is only a beginning. We need to bear testimony, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to live it. We need to both declare and live our testimonies.


We should both create and look for opportunities to bear testimony of gospel truths—and live them.


A testimony is what we know to be true in our minds and in our hearts by the witness of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 8:2). As we profess truth rather than admonish, exhort, or simply share interesting experiences, we invite the Holy Ghost to confirm the verity of our words.


Such testimony fortifies faith and provides direction. Such testimony generates light in a world that grows increasingly dark. Such testimony is the source of an eternal perspective and of enduring peace.


Suggestion Number Three: Be Consistent


Today if you could ask our adult sons what they remember about family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening, I believe I know how they would answer. They likely would not identify a particular prayer or a specific instance of scripture study or an especially meaningful family home evening lesson as the defining moment in their spiritual development. What they would say they remember is that as a family we were consistent.

That Your Burdens May Be Light

by Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Of the Presidency of the Seventy
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-4,00.html

No matter the burdens we face in life as a consequence of natural conditions, the misconduct of others, or our own mistakes and shortcomings, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who sent us to earth as part of His eternal plan for our growth and progress. Our unique individual experiences can help us prepare to return to Him. The adversity and afflictions that are ours, however difficult to bear, last, from heaven’s perspective, for “but a small moment; and then, if [we] endure it well, God shall exalt [us] on high.” We must do everything we can to bear our burdens “well” for however long our “small moment” carrying them lasts.


Burdens provide opportunities to practice virtues that contribute to eventual perfection. They invite us to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and [put] off the natural man and [become] a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and [become] as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.” Thus burdens become blessings, though often such blessings are well disguised and may require time, effort, and faith to accept and understand. Four examples may help explain this:


**First, Adam was told, “Cursed shall be the ground for thy sake,” which meant for his benefit, and “by the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” Work is a continual burden, but it is also a continual blessing “for [our] sake,” for it teaches lessons we can learn only “by the sweat of [our] face.”


**Second, Alma observed that the poverty and “afflictions [of the poor among the Zoramites] had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.” He added, “Because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye.” Our economic challenges may help prepare us to hear the word of the Lord.


**Third, because of the “exceedingly great length of [their] war,” many Nephites and Lamanites “were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.” Political unrest, social disorder, and, in some areas of the world, modern Gadianton robbers may humble us and motivate us to seek heavenly shelter from societal storms.


**Fourth, Joseph Smith was told that the terrible things he suffered for years at the hands of his enemies would “give [him] experience, and . . . be for [his] good.” The suffering we experience through the offenses of others is a valuable, though painful, school for improving our own behavior.

Further, bearing up under our own burdens can help us develop a reservoir of empathy for the problems others face. The Apostle Paul taught that we should “bear . . . one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Accordingly, our baptismal covenants require that we should be “willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and [be] willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”


Keeping our baptismal covenants helps relieve our own burdens as well as those of burdened souls we serve. Those who offer such assistance to others stand on holy ground. In explaining this, the Savior taught:


“When saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?


“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?


“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?


“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”Through it all, the Savior offers us sustaining strength and support, and in His own time and way, He offers deliverance


Mercifully, the Son of God offers us deliverance from the bondage of our sins, which are among the heaviest of all the burdens we bear. During His Atonement He suffered “according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance.” Christ “suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.” When we repent and keep the commandments, forgiveness and relief from our burdened conscience come with the help that only the Savior offers, for “surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy.”

Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit

by Vicki F. Matsumori
Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-3,00.html

...there are those who desire to feel the Spirit guiding them daily in their lives. While each person can learn to recognize the whisperings of the Spirit, that learning process can be facilitated as others help us understand about the Holy Ghost, share their personal testimonies, and provide an environment where the Spirit can be felt.


I need to do this with our children

Understanding the Doctrine

The importance of helping others understand is described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Parents “in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized” are told to help their children “understand the doctrine.”


We are told that “the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples” and that as we “let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly; then . . . the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion.”


The scriptures and the prophets teach what this constant companionship feels like. The Lord tells us, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.” Enos stated, ““While I was . . . struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind.”” Joseph Smith said, “When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas.” President Henry B. Eyring described the influence of the Holy Ghost as “peace, hope, and joy.” He added, “Almost always I have also felt a sensation of light.”


Share Personal Testimony


We can help others become more familiar with the promptings of the Spirit when we share our testimony of the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. However, by sharing testimony of the Spirit in our lives, those who are unfamiliar with these promptings are more likely to recognize when they have similar feelings.


I felt a flood of warmth sweep over me. I felt a peace descend on me, and I had the distinct feeling that Heavenly Father was pleased with me.

I need to ask kids more often about experiences and lessons and see if they felt any different and help them recognize those feelings as those from the spirit. I also need to share my own experiences and how I felt when the Spirit moved upon me.

Provide an Environment Where the Spirit Can Be Felt

There are places where it is easier to feel the Spirit. Testimony meetings and general conference are some of those places. The challenge for each of us is in providing an environment where the Spirit can be felt daily in our homes and weekly at church.


One reason we are encouraged to pray and read the scriptures every single day is that both of these activities invite the Spirit into our homes and into the lives of our family members.

I think I need to encourage the kids to keep a personal scripture journal like I’m doing now so they can remember any spiritual thoughts or feelings.

Because the Spirit is often described as a still, small voice, it is also important to have a time of quiet in our lives as well. The Lord has counseled us to “be still, and know that I am God.” If we provide a still and quiet time each day when we are not bombarded by television, computer, video games, or personal electronic devices, we allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us.


When we come to understand the whisperings of the Spirit, we will be able to hear Him teach us “the peaceable things of the kingdom” and “all things what [we] should do.” We will recognize answers to our prayers and know how to live the gospel more fully each day. We will be guided and protected. And we can cultivate this gift in our lives as we follow those spiritual promptings. Most importantly, we will feel Him witness to us of the Father and of the Son.

What is the Gospel?

3 Nephi 26:13-22

Jesus' words to the Nephites after his death..
v13 ...I came into the world to do the will of my Father...



v14 ...that I might be lifted up upon the cross...that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works..


v16 ...whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father.


v20 ...repent...be baptized... that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day...


v21 ...this is my gospel


v22 ...if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
 
 
I know Jesus Christ came down to earth to teach us then atone for our sins and pains.  I'm thankful to be able to follow His example and have greater joy as I go through life.  I'm grateful for His willingness to atone for us so we can repent, change, even forgive and return to Heavenly Father.