Elders Quorum
The lesson was on President Eyring’s conference talk, Where Is the Pavilion?
Doctrine and Covenants 121:4-6
4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.
5 Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.
6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.
Elder Eyring said, “By the world’s standards, I had achieved success. But I was given by the Church the chance to leave California and go to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. My lifetime professional objectives might have been a pavilion dividing me from a loving Father who knew better than I did what my future could hold. But I was blessed to know that whatever success I had in my career and family life to that point was a gift from God. And so, like a child, I knelt in prayer to ask what I should do. I was able to hear a quiet voice in my mind that said, ‘It’s my school.’ There was no pavilion shielding me from God. In faith and humility, I submitted my will to His and felt His care and closeness.”
This goes well with the thoughts from previous weeks on adjusting our expectations to be able to partake of what the Lord has planned for us. The missionary from last week, who said he he had planned to go to a foreign country for his mission and speak a foreign language and had to adjust his expectations for the Lord to give him the blessing of the mission he had planned for him in California. The sister in stake conference that talked of people needing to reconcile what they should do and what they had planned to do. That one more vacation now cut short due the lowered age requirement for full time missionary service.
The only thing that gets in our way is our own distractions.
Sunday School
Mormon 1-6, Moroni 9
What does it mean to be a sober child? Not a smart alec. Quick to observe. Trustworthy.
Mormon is given instruction at 10 years old for something to do when he is 24. My kids often can't remember something I told them to do five minutes ago, let alone for 14 years.
Mormon 2:13
13 But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
Moroni 9: 4
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
Sharpness can mean harsh, but it can also mean to the point or precise.
Sacrament Service
John 14: 6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me
It is not easy to let our children fail, but it may be the lesson they need to learn.
“the most important … work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 134)
"When we make and keep gospel covenants and receive the ordinances of salvation, our children will see and be influenced to seek the blessings of this kind of obedience. We teach them principles of honesty and integrity by being honest, truthful, trustworthy, and dependable. We teach them the virtues of responsibility and accountability by being doers, not doubters, by accepting opportunities to participate and to serve, by making our word our bond."
When Nephi built the boat he had to make his tools, trim the lumber, and make nails or whatever fasteners they needed to hold the boat together.
We desire people to come to or come back to church because this is home much like when we want family to be with us at the holidays and do not want them to be away, even if we have differences.
“Clearly, those of us who have been entrusted with precious children have been given a sacred, noble stewardship, for we are the ones God has appointed to encircle today’s children with love and the fire of faith and an understanding of who they are” (M Russell Ballard, “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 60)
“The Savior cherished His relationships and interactions with children. As we seek to view our children as He does, we can be filled with charity toward them. The insights we receive through prayer will help us respond appropriately to their needs and challenges. It helps to remember that parenting is a fluid, dynamic process. It can take time to see the results of our efforts. What works today may not work next year or even tomorrow. And no parent handles every situation perfectly. When we fall short, it is important to apologize and try to do better. After all, parents are growing and learning too. With the Lord’s help, parents can provide appropriate love, limits, and latitude that will enable their children to reach their full potential as sons and daughters of God.” (Love, Limits, and Latitude, Ensign August 2008)
”Every member of the Church is important to us. Indeed, every person—member or not—is important to us, but surely among the most significant of all our responsibilities is the responsibility to protect and nurture the children of the Church. . . . We care so much about you and about the children you are teaching. Prepare well to bless these little ones. Give it your best effort“ (Elder Jeffrey R Holland, ”Anchoring Children in the Scriptures,“ Primary training video)
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