Hitting Rock Bottom

Today I visited a boys' juvenile detention center for Sabbath worship services.

Missionaries teach a Sunday School class in three rotations.

The boys who attend Sunday meetings do so voluntarily.

The Sunday School lesson focused on Jesus Christ being our Teacher, our Healer, our Forgiver, our Advocate, our Savior.

In all of the groups, the instructor missionary asked, "What does it mean that Jesus is our rock?"

Several answers from several boys in all groups . But one answer stood out to me.

"It's like when we hit rock bottom---Jesus will be there."

What a beautiful way to think about that!

Two Ears to the Lord

In one of my most favorite chapters in 2 Nephi, Jacob writes this wise, cautionary statement:

To be learned is good IF they hearken to the counsels of God.

Three principles from this short statement stand out to me.

First, to be learned is good. Learning is part of our spiritual DNA. Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother are very pleased when we learn new things. They find joy when we increase and add upon the knowledge of things we already have learned.

Second, when we hearken to the Lord’s counsel, we won’t go astray. Knowledge and wisdom will be coupled with light and truth. “Light and truth forsake the evil one” (D&C 93:37).

Third, the word “ear” is smack dab in the middle of both the words “learned” and “hearken.” Maybe a coincidence that we were created with two ears, not one?

Learning and hearkening simultaneously takes practice. It takes faith. It takes action because listening with two ears doesn’t always come easily. Ask any of my children. One ear--out the other. One ear is not attuned to the counsels of God, is not hearkening. It's more like listening to and singing with your favorite song while trying to concentrate on a difficult math problem. Or teaching a child how to read while she is trying to figure out how to tie her shoes.

Learning and hearkening to the counsels of God requires the Spirit because "the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really care, and of things as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13).

For because when those two ears (learning and hearkening) are attuned to God, then "things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls" (Jacob 4:13).

Learning and hearkening to God = manifestations for the salvation of our souls.

But remember, Satan is a liar. Has been from the very beginning and He will try to take what is true and pit it again those things that are truth. He is especially effective when we are learning, but not hearkening.

Because what is true and what is truth are two different things.

A sister in Sunday School shared the difference of what is true and and is truth in this way:

These things are true: Having children ruin your body (and your hormones); Raising children is expensive; Children take up a lot of time and energy and money; You have to make some major sacrifices to have children; Cute, innocent babies grow up to be--teenagers!

These things are truths: Children are a sacred gift from a loving Father in Heaven; Children are part of God's eternal plan; Little children are alive in Christ; The only way a child can come to earth is by way of a man and a woman.

The things that are true can be taken by Satan, the father of all lies, and twisted. Twisted in a way that makes us think . . . well, you know what it makes us think. Because "whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning" (D&C 93:25).

Things that are truth keep us in the right way.  For "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light." And we can only know this as we hearken to His counsels.

Sunday Thoughts

Here is something I learned while studying these verses of scripture from this week's Sunday School lesson (1 Nephi 22:16-17).  Take note of how the Lord will destroy the wicked and preserve the righteous.

For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for He will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.

Wherefore, He will preserve the righteous by His power, even if it so be that the fulness of His wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; . . . they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.

So what I did know is that before the Lord comes a second time, those that believe not in the Lord Jesus Christ will be destroyed by fire (2 Nephi 6:15).

But what caught my attention is that it is also by fire that the Lord will preserve the righteous. And few fire-saving images illustrated in the scriptures came to my mind:

1. Baptism by fire/receiving the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants 20:41)
2. Tithing a.k.a. Fire Insurance (Doctrine and Covenants 64:23)
3. Guidance in a world of darkness (Exodus 13:21)
4. Purification - to receive His image in our countenances (Malachi 3:2)

Which made me take a personal inventory of where I stand and where my heart is.

Because righteousness binds Satan.

When Satan is bound he has no power.

And what I learned this week is that I don't have to wait until the Millennium to shake the very powers of @#!*% (see 1 Nephi 22:26 and Alma 48:17)!

Murmuring, Obedience and Me

Here's what I learned in Sunday School today about murmuring.

The information today was shared by an incredibly talented, yet profoundly humble pediatric cardiologist and his most remarkable wife, who also happens to be a cardiac nurse for adult patients!!

So when a baby is born with a heart murmur, it is called an innocent murmur.

A normal heart beat sounds something like lub-dub, lub-dub.

An innocent murmur in an infant sounds something more like lub-dub, then a blowing noise (emphasis on the noise), then a lub-dub.

There are about six different types of innocent murmurs.

These murmurs are common enough among young children that if you listen to the hearts of 20 pre-schoolers, one-fourth of them will have a heart murmur!

Most innocent heart murmurs in children go away naturally somewhere between the ages of 8 and 10.

Interesting, isn't it, that that age coincides somewhat with the age of accountability?

However, when an adult has a heart murmur it is usually caused by another, underlying problem.

If not treated properly and promptly the effects can be severe enough to cause death.

So there in Sunday School my mind and heart was processing as quickly as it could before someone moved to the next topic, the connection murmuring has with obedience.

Obedience to the Lord.

Obedience to the living prophets.

Obedience to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

And how disobedience is usually the underlying problem I have when it comes to my murmuring.

Disobedience meaning a negative attitude or laziness or being too comfortable or not acting quickly enough or just being plain rebellious.

And how if the underlying cause of my murmuring (aka disobedience) isn't corrected properly and promptly, the effects can be severe enough to cause me death.

Spiritual death. Or in other words, losing my place in the land of promise.

No wonder obedience IS the First Law of Heaven.

Because obedience will do wonders on fixing the murmurs of my heart.

What My 11 Year Old Taught Me Today

So as we were preparing our Sunday dinner my eleven year old made a dinner request.

Son: "Mom, can we have potatoes today?"

Me: "I think so.  I just need to see how many potatoes we have."

Son: "I really want mashed potatoes, with gravy."

Me (after checking on the potatoes): "Oh honey, we don't have enough potatoes to make mashed potatoes."

Son: "Okay.  I'm going to go look in the basement pantry to see if there is another bag."

Me: "Nope.  We don't have any potatoes in the pantry."

Son: "Mom!  Why did you say that?  What you needed to say was, 'Why don't you go check to see if there are potatoes in the pantry' even if you know there are no potatoes in the pantry.  At least that will give me hope . . ."

And then he added with a big, HUGE smile, "and maybe then, potatoes will appear in the pantry because of my faith."

Sweet boy.

Wonderful lesson for me.

The Lost Coin

Today in Sunday School our discussion favored the three parables found in Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

As I studied the Parable of the Lost Coin I was able to see a call for us to be better examples, to open our mouths and be better missionaries, and to ultimately share the blessings of the temple - the crowning blessing of the restored gospel - with all who are found worthy!  I share with you what I learned.

First of all here is the scripture: Luke 15:8-10.

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?


And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Ten pieces of silver = One-tenth; Tithing; one of the commandments we must obey in order to enter into the temple Doctrine and Covenants 119:4

Lose one piece = With faith and diligence, we can safely find those who have been taken captive so that not one soul will be lost Alma 16:8

Light a Candle = Be an example to others Matthew 5:16

Sweep the House = Gathering the Lord's Elect Moses 7:62

Seek Diligently = Pray for missionary experiences, for confidence to share the gospel with others Luke 11:9

She found it = Everyone that seeketh, findeth Luke 11:10

Calleth her friends = Christ will call the obedient His friends John 15:14-15

Rejoice with Me = Recognize the Lord's hand in His ultimate work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man Alma 26:16

Joy/angels = Missionary Work/Gathering Israel Alma 13:22-24

Sinner that Repents = The Lord desires His people to be worthy to enter the temple Doctrine and Covenants 109:21

Stake Conference Notes

Here are some notes that I took during Stake Conference this past weekend . . . with some included quotes!

Faith in Adversity

* The Lord’s timing is ALWAYS perfect.
* Through faith inthe Lord, Jesus Christ, He will fill my lack.
* The only limits faith has dwell within me.
* If I have the faith of a mustard seed, I can move mountains. (Mountains = anything that seem too difficult for me).
* Do not let adversity be the center of my life.
* If God is my co-pilot . . . CHANGE PLACES!

Stories/Quotes

* * *

"There is the story of two neighboring farmers—one a habitual Sabbath breaker, and the other a faithful observer of the Lord’s day. On one occasion the Sabbath observer severely chastised his neighbor for working his farm on Sundays rather than attending to his religious devotions. This led to an argument and a challenge. “Let us put the matter to a test,” the Sabbath breaker said. “We will select two pieces of ground of equal size and fertility. On them we will plant the same crop. My piece of ground I will work on Sundays, and you will work yours on the other days of the week. Then we will see who gets the greater harvest.


"The challenge was accepted and the conditions were faithfully observed. As the harvest was gathered in, the Sabbath-observing farmer was disappointed to learn that the piece of ground farmed by his neighbor had produced the greater yield. The Sabbath breaker exulted in his apparent triumph and his discrediting of the contention of his faithful neighbor.

“You have forgotten one important thing,” protested the Sabbath observer. “The Lord doesn’t always settle His accounts in October.” -Dean L Larsen (New Era, Feb 1986, 4, italics added).

* * *

“How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, ‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’” –Neal A. Maxwell (Ensign, May 1991, 88). 

* * *

"In living our lives let us never forget that the deeds of our fathers and mothers are theirs, not ours; that their works cannot be counted to our glory; that we can claim no excellence and no place, because of what they did, that we must rise by our own labor, and that labor failing we shall fail. We may claim no honor, no reward, no respect, nor special position or recognition, no credit because of what our fathers were or what they wrought. We stand upon our own feet in our own shoes." - J. Reuben Clark Jr. (New Era, Jul 1975, 8).

Marriage
* The doctrine of family began with our Heavenly Parents.
* The most important date on our monthly calendar should be: Friday Night Date Night!
* In making essential decisions there should be unity.
   In making non-essential decisions there should be liberty.
   In making all decisions there should be charity.
* Do I have the patience with my spouse the Lord has with me?
* The feeling of love (for my spouse) is the fruit of my actions.
* Heavenly Father is an exalted, happily married man!

It's Soapbox Sunday

Just FYI for all Sunday teachers – STICK! TO! THE! MANUAL!

After doing my part in studying and pondering this week’s lessons assignment, one of the Sunday teachers thought it would be a good idea to do “research” on the general topic of the specific lesson. I ended up wondering where the original lesson came in at all!

Not once was the original lesson mentioned . . . nor was one scripture read! NOT ONE.

I didn’t know if I was more upset about being upset or upset about being spiritually undernourished.

The other Sunday teacher thought it would be a good idea to turn the lesson into a lecture. ACK!

Now, while I am trying my hardest not to judge, I know very well that I will come across like I am.

And while I am also trying my hardest not to sound preachy, I know very well how this particular blog will be taken by some!

But here I go anyway as I endeavor to voice my opinion because, as imperfect as a teacher I am, I take into careful, obedient consideration these IMPORTANT guidelines.

BTW - These guidelines come DIRECTLY from the manuals and the Ensign magazine that every teacher and student should have!!!! I did not make these up!

From the Priesthood/Relief Society Manual:
Teach the Doctrine

Before you teach from a chapter, study it thoroughly to be sure you understand the doctrine. Also study the additional scriptures listed at the end of the chapter. You will teach with greater sincerity and power when the teachings in the chapter have influenced you personally. Never speculate about Church doctrine. Teach only what is supported by the scriptures, the words of latter-day prophets and apostles, and the Holy Spirit (see D&C 42:12–14; 52:9).

If you have been called to teach a quorum or class using this book, do not substitute outside materials, however interesting they may be. Stay true to the scriptures and the words in the book. As appropriate, use personal experiences and articles from Church magazines to supplement the lessons. (italics added).

From the Sunday School - Old Testament Manual:
Encouraging Class Discussion

You normally should not give lectures but should try to help class members participate meaningfully in discussing the scriptures. As class members participate, they more effectively learn about the scriptures and better understand how to apply gospel principles. Seek the Spirit’s guidance in deciding which questions to ask, how to organize them, and how to develop them.  . .

Scripture references are provided to help you and class members find answers to most questions in the scriptures. Answers to some questions will come from class members’ experiences.

For Priesthood/Relief Society 4th Sunday Lesson a.k.a. Teaching for our Time
Suggestions for Preparing a Lesson from Talks

Pray that the Holy Spirit will be with you as you study and teach the talk(s). You may be tempted to prepare the lesson using other materials, but the conference talks are the approved curriculum. Your assignment is to help others learn and live the gospel as taught in the most recent general conference of the Church.

Review the talk(s), looking for principles and doctrines that meet the needs of class members. Also look for stories, scripture references, and statements from the talk(s) that will help you teach these truths (italics added).

From the Primary Manual:
Helps for the Teacher

In 1831, shortly after the Church was organized, the Savior taught that teachers “shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon” (D&C 42:12), which were the only scriptures available then. Today teachers have the responsibility to teach the sacred truths from all the standard works, including the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, to help children develop faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ.

From the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Men's Manual
Additional Resources

Use the scriptures. Encourage the young men to bring their scriptures to priesthood meeting each week. Have marking pencils available for them to use during each lesson.

Encourage discussion. Invite the young men to respond freely and to ask questions. Recognize each young man’s contribution so he will want to participate in the future.

Use available Church magazines. The New Era, Ensign, and international magazines contain many outstanding stories and articles that may help enhance certain lessons in this manual. Particularly useful are the issues that contain talks given by the General Authorities of the Church at general conference.

Finally, this quote is found at the beginning of the Young Women's Manual and it pretty much sums ups everything in this, my Sunday Soapbox blog:

Elder M. Russell Ballard counseled: “Teachers would be well advised to study carefully the scriptures and their manuals before reaching out for supplemental materials. Far too many teachers seem to stray from the approved curriculum materials without fully reviewing them. If teachers feel a need to use some good supplemental resources beyond the scriptures and manuals in presenting a lesson, they should first consider the use of the Church magazines” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1983, p. 93; or Ensign, May 1983, p. 68 bold type added).