All Things Denote There is a God

Lesson 27, Alma 30-31

Gabby taught a wonderful lesson on Sunday about Korihor. In Alma chapter 30, Korihor is spreading false doctrine, teaching people that there is no Christ. When Alma questioned why he had turned away from the gospel, he accused the church of deceiving the people. His reasons were some of the same lies we hear today. They are just following the same foolish traditions of their fathers, no one can know what is to come, the commandments are too restrictive, and that belief in the Atonement is the result of a "frenzied mind".

Korihor says he will believe if he sees a sign. Even after Alma's warning he continues to temp the Lord. He receives his sign, and is struck completely dumb. Then he believes, and begs to have the affliction removed. He explains that the devil came to him in the form of an angel, and told him all those things. He remained dumb, and eventually died after having to beg for food on the street.

Here is the reading for next week!
Lesson 28

The Devil’s Throat

James E. Faust
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

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Please help us push back the world. We must stand against the wind. Sometimes we must be unpopular and simply say, “This is not right.”

My dear brethren of the priesthood, tonight I address my remarks to all of you, but in particular to the young men. My purpose is to instruct and warn you of dangers that lie ahead, but I also want to express my love for you and the great confidence I have in you as the rising generation.

As a young man I served a mission to Brazil. It was a marvelous experience. One of the wonders of the world in that great country is Iguaçu Falls. In the flood season, the volume of water spilling over the brink is the largest in the world. Every few minutes, millions of gallons of water cascade into the chasm below. One part of the falls, where the deluge is the heaviest, is called the Devil’s Throat.

There are some large rocks standing just above, before the water rushes down into Devil’s Throat. Years ago, reckless boatmen would take passengers in canoes to stand on those rocks and look down into the Devil’s Throat. The water above the falls is usually calm and slow moving, and the atmosphere tranquil. Only the roar of the water below forewarns of the danger lurking just a few feet away. A sudden, unexpected current could take a canoe into the rushing waters, over the cliff, and down into the Devil’s Throat. Those foolish enough to leave the canoes to stand on these treacherous wet rocks could so easily lose their footing and be swept away into the swirling currents below.

Institute - How to Teach Effectively | August 1, 2012

Institute            

August 1, 2012

How to teach effectively

What are some good characteristics of good teaching?

Listening, knowledge, sensitivity, creativity, structure, meeting needs, intuitive, enthusiastic, and inclusive. 

What are some good characteristics of a good class?

Participation, honesty, paying attention, asking questions, preparedness, not being distracted.

Study Your Scriptures

D&C 11:21

Long before we get an assignment to preach from an manual we should study from the scriptures first so others will have reference of what you are talking about.

First seek to obtain the word of God by studying the scriptures only then will we have the power to convince men.

Prepare Early and Often

Try to prepare ahead of time for a lesson because the Lord reveals things to us during the week.

The Lord opens our eyes as when we study ahead of time.

Let the spirit take over the class.

Be Creative

The earlier we start, the more creative we will be.

Preparing a lesson is like writing a song, it needs a hook.

There is a little bit of primary in everybody, so do not be afraid to be creative.

Be Visual

Using visuals to teach  helps the lesson stick longer.

However, you do not need to go overboard with visuals in order to prove a point.

Being Aware of Your Audience

Make lessons that adapt to your audience

Let the class help you edit-what to cut out/keep in your lesson.

Listen to The People You Teach

They are not lifeless objects disguised as a baptismal statistics (Jeffrey R. Holland)

Let yourself be open to change.

Listen to The Clock

You have to be willing to cut on the spot

There IS a thing as too much structure.

Try not to go overtime because that is when people will stop listening.

Either 3: 3-6

When the brother of Jared brings the 16 stones back to the Lord, He touched it with his finger.

All the preparation we do is like bringing the stones back to the Lord.

Heavenly Father touches us with the spirit just like he touched the stones, the spirit is able to enlighten us and we are able to understand.

The spirit is what makes the light goes on, then we are able to see the truths.

If you do not have the spirit, you should not teach.

If you do not come ready to receive (the spirit) then you will not be able to see the truths.

Lesson by Heather Marks

Transcribed by Laurie Jean-Baptiste  

Dare to Stand Alone

Thomas S. Monson
President of the Church

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May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe.

My beloved brethren, it is a tremendous privilege to be with you tonight. We who hold the priesthood of God form a great bond and brotherhood.

We read in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 121, verse 36, “that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven.” What a wonderful gift we have been given—to hold the priesthood, which is “inseparably connected with the powers of heaven.” This precious gift, however, brings with it not only special blessings but also solemn responsibilities. We must conduct our lives so that we are ever worthy of the priesthood we bear. We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction. To avoid such paths requires determination and courage.

I recall a time—and some of you here tonight will also—when the standards of most people were very similar to our standards. No longer is this true. I recently read an article in the New York Times concerning a study which took place during the summer of 2008. A distinguished Notre Dame sociologist led a research team in conducting in-depth interviews with 230 young adults across America. I believe we can safely assume that the results would be similar in most parts of the world.

I share with you just a portion of this very telling article:

Relief Society and Elder's Quorum Combined Class - Reform and Report with Honor

Relief Society and Elder's Quorum Combined Class      July 29, 2012

Reform and Report with Honor

How does it feel when someone promises you that they will do something and

then they actually do it?

We are able to trust them with other things that are also important (Gabby)

It makes us feel good. It shows that we was important to them and that they did not let us slide through the cracks (Sandra)

What about someone who does not?

We lose trust in them (Joann)

Everyone has failed at least once to keep a promise. Sometimes we fail to keep a promise because we accidentally forget to write it down, etc. Sometimes we just need a better reminder.

The second we think of something that needs to be done, either do it right away or write it down. It will help us to not forget. (Sister Foster)

What does honor mean to you?

Respect, honesty, selflessness, a person with integrity, and wholeness.

Learn how to be reliable in order to return back to our Heavenly Father (Brother Foster)

We should have hope that we can act in this way.

Bible Dictionary

Covenant- An agreement between persons (1 Sam. 23:18) or nations (1 Sam. 11:1) more often between God and man.

Abrahamic, covenant of.

Salvation: Abraham received the gospel by baptism which is called the covenant of salvation. We renew this covenant every  sabbath day when we partake of the sacrament. This covenant will help us make it back to Heavenly Father.

Exaltation: celestial marriage and endowments

Heavenly Father promises us that we will make it back to him and be as perfect as him IF we are faithful in this mortal campout

One of the greatest joys of Godhood is being able to create. Although we can procreate in this life, when we reach Godhood we will be able to make our own worlds and the things the them (Foster)

God's Contingent Promise

D&C 82:10- "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

Here his promises are made if we stay on the straight and narrow path and if not, we must repent. This is God’s Contingent promise.

Learning to be like Heavenly Father is also learning to be independent and proactive.

One of our goals is to become independent actors. We must know how to act all the time without being told.

When Asked The Lord To Do Something

By commandment- If we don not read our scriptures what are the chances that Heavenly Father will reveal revelations to us?

By the voice of the spirit- The more we keep the commandments, the more we will be able to understand what He is telling us. We listen to his still quiet voice. It’s up to us to figure out how to listen to this still, small voice. We might hear it in a different way than somebody else

The Four Steps of Prayer

Ask Heavenly Father what we should stop doing

Ask what we should be doing

Ask what we should do more of

Ask who needs your help

By the voice of the servant of the Lord

The prophet, priesthood holders, sunday school teachers, ect

If you act in accordance of the Lord, good things will happen.

Can You Commit To Do Something (self check)

Steps to check if we are keeping promises and being accountable to(wards) our commitments

 

How am I doing with keeping my word with my family?

How am I doing with keeping my word with my friends?

How am I doing with keeping my word with my leaders?

Being A Reliable Person of Your Word

Alma 18: 9-10

Ammon gives us a good example of how to keep our word.

Sons of Helaman show us courage, strength, act proactivity

Alma 57:21

They listened to their moms, obeyed with exactness, and they were blessed.

We can be blessed if we exhibit obedience.

This would be difficult to do, thankfully we have the atonement and can repent.

Gaining Strength Through The Atonement

Put off natural man (repentance)

Becoming a saint- allowing the spirit to engulf us.

"The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality"- Elder David A. Bednar

Life is difficult. We must endure to the end. We CANNOT give up.

Lesson by Brother Foster      

Transcribed by Laurie Jean-Baptiste and Courtney Bradley

Fostering Faith - What's Holding You Back (Bishop Foster)

This is the first post for our Fostering Faith spot of our blog which comes to us from Bishop Foster.

What’s Holding You Back?


I have a favorite scripture whose location is easy to remember. It’s just “five one’s” in the Doctrine and Covenants—Section 111:11.

I memorized it because it gives me ever-present guidance on how Heavenly Father operates to help me progress. And if you’re like me, you want to keep making progress, but sometimes you need a little (or a lot) of help getting there.

Here’s the scripture:

111:11 Therefore, be ye as a wise as serpents and yet without sin; and I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them.


Some questions to jog your thinking as you ponder the scripture:

• What does this scripture tell you about how willing the Lord is to help you? 
• What is holding you back from having the Lord “order all things for your good”? Could it be your present capacity to receive those things? 
• What would increase your capacity to receive “all things for your good”?
• Is this something you need to pray about?

Institute - Three Fold Mission | July 25, 2012

Institute July 25, 2012

Three Fold Mission

1. Perfect the saints

2. Proclaim the gospel

3, Redeem the dead

How Have You Been Found?

Acts 17: 26-28

Jesus Christ does not care about our nationality, what color we are, or where we come from. He is our brother, we are connected by blood.

We should seek he Lord because he because will eventually learn that he is never far from us.

We are all God's children, we are all family, God is our Father.

Alma 31: 34-37

Alma the younger is going off with his friends to teach the people of Zerahemla who have lost their way.

They prayed, exercised faith, and relied on the Lord.

Life becomes easier when we exercise our faith.

D&C 61: 3

The prophet has been traveling quickly on waters and Heavenly Father is telling them "why are they going so fast, there are people all around you to teach".

There are many opportunities to teach the gospel, we just have to recognize.

We want to rash and hurry through life but we have to slow down and talk advantage of the opportunities God gives us. 

Lesson by Jill Makechnie

Transcribed by Laurie Jean-Baptiste