RS Lesson Summary- Nov. 16th

Bishop Walter taught the combined lesson last Sunday. It was an exciting message about family history work. The church is put together a 'new approach' to family history. Some members of the church may have reservations about doing family history. Maybe it's due to the fact that you have an aunt or grandpa or cousin who is 'doing the work' for your family. Maybe it's because the task seems very daunting. 'Where do I start?' 'It's too overwhelming', or 'I'll do it when I have more time.' The church would like us to put all of those feelings aside and start thinking differently.

Family history work should be a family affair. Using the church's webpage and https://familysearch.org/ we can compile information about our families together. The site has been redesigned to work anywhere on any device. There is also a new booklet published by the church that you can fill in and then transfer the information online. My family booklet is a great way to get everyone in your home excited about family history. The booklet is a great place to put stories, info and pictures about your family.

Need help? Family History consultants and specialists can lead you in the right direction. The youth in the church have been leading the way in family history work. In October of 2011 Elder Bednar issued a challenge and a promise to become more involved in Family history.

Family history can be fun! Involve your children and families in this work. Tell stories, share experiences, role play, there are lots of ways to enjoy family history work. 

"He was a Blacksmith video"

The youth of the church especially have been asked to get involved. There are many stakes leading the way in 40 day challenges: 40 days to the temple. Take a family name that you your self have researched to do the work for that person. 

Here is a video of the Stake in Lehi that has inspired many to take hundreds of names to the temple. 

"Now I'm Converted" Video

Are you ready to take the 40 day challenge to take a name to the temple?

 Building a strong family narrative is another way we can be involved in family history. How do we do this? Record events in our journals, enjoy family traditions, engage in spiritual habits, and talk to each other. Tell each other about experiences and record them. Create connections to your family past and present. 

Our lives are full of experiences. As we create and live our own stories, and we want tor record our stories for future generations. 'It's about the dash'.

It's about the 'dash' video

 The blessings that will come from doing this important work are limitless. As we dig in and take the challenge to do the work, we will be 'converted' to family history. Our families will be strengthened as we do the work together, as will our ties to those who have gone before. 

Turn our Hearts

RS Lesson Summary- Nov 9th

Sister Walter gave an excellent lesson last Sunday. The topic was Individual Responsibility. You can read the lesson from President Joseph Fielding Smith here. Sister Walter began by reading the story of the "Little Red Hen." We are all familiar with the story of the little red hen. She found wheat and grew it, harvested and made bread all by herself without the help of her neighbors, who she asked to participate in many times in the wheat growing and bread making process. Each time the neighbors declined. When she was ready to eat the wheat she had grown, this time instead of saying no, of course they all wanted to 'reap' the benefits of her hard work. Sister Walter asked us what lessons we have each learned from this story.
One of the most important things we learn from the story  is that it is important to work hard. Enjoying the fruits of our labor is very hard work, but satisfying. As we go through our lives, it is important to help others learn what we know, so that they can take care of themselves as well. 
D&C 75: 28-29

We should be industrious in spiritual and temporal matters.

We need to remember that our own salvation is most important. We work to sustain our testimonies and then help others to grow into their testimonies.

On page 293 of the manual: "It is an important fact, shown by direct acts and by implication in all the scriptures, that God has done for men all that men cannot do for themselves to secure salvation, but he expects men to do all for themselves that is in their power."

Sister Walter then read the parable of the 5 foolish and 5 wise virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom in Matthew 25. This opened up a very interesting discussion about preparedness and testimony. Some of us when reading the scriptures may feel uncomfortable reading the story, feeling bad for the five virgins who needed oil. The wise virgins sent them to buy oil, telling them they couldn't share their oil. We discussed that back in that time, it would have been physically impossible to pour oil out of their lamps into another lamp. 
We interpret these passages in this way: each of us has a testimony and each has our own personal experiences which bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. Each of us must build a relationship with Christ, and prepare ourselves for his coming. No one can do that for us,  we must do it for ourselves. We must work everyday to be prepared. How can we put our testimony in another? We each must gain our own testimony.

Further in the chapter of Matthew 25 we read: 'Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not'. Joseph Smith translation it reads: "You knew me not". Clarifying the point that we all must know the Savior individually, and we cannot borrow another's light, testimony or spiritual oil to to return to the Savior.

One sister mentioned that one of the biggest tragedies of the story of the five foolish virgins is that at the beginning of the story all of the women had their lamps lit. As the night went on, the foolish virgins did not have enough oil to return to Heavenly Father. We all want to return to Heavenly Father, and we must work daily to keep our light burning brightly.

We then began talking about self reliance. Skills like spiritual oil, must be experienced and learned to be internalized. We can't give someone skills in gardening, financial planning, cooking or sewing. We can teach someone, but they must learn and practice their skills to become proficient. 

By being good examples, we encourage others to live well, and seek for the good. Finally, this wonderful quote by President Kimball:
"The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant.  This was not selfishness or unkindness.  The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable.  How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge?  How can one share faith or testimony?  How can one share attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission?  how can one share temple privileges?  Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself.  The foolish virgins were not averse to buying oil.  They knew they should have oi.  They merely procrastinated, not knowing when the bridegroom would come.  In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market.  In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living.  Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years.  Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures- each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store.  Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity- these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps".