October 27, 2013

Opening Hymn: 98
Closing Hymn: 142

Announcements:
Relief Society Activity on Tuesday at 7:00- Ice Cream and Nursery will be provided.
Amanda and Tyler Hollett had baby Russell Tyler Hollett Jr. If you would like to take the Hollett's a meal you can sign up at http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=BQWO2474

Lesson:
Our Lesson on Sunday was by Sister Pat Maurer.  She gave a lesson based on the following two talks:
"The Lords Way" by Elder Stanley G. Ellis
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-lords-way
"Personal Peace: The reward of righteousness" by Elder Quenton L. Cook
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/personal-peace-the-reward-of-righteousness

The first talk that Sister Maurer addressed was "The Lords Way"
In Elder Ellis's talk he begins by telling how he and his family grew up on a farm where they learned the following principles:

I grew up on a farm near Burley, Idaho—a real “Idaho farm boy!” As such I learned:

1. 1. 
   To work—if you don’t plant, you don’t harvest.
2. 2. 
   To work smart—if you irrigate and fertilize, you harvest more.
3. 3. 
   The importance of timing—if you don’t plant at the right time, an early frost can destroy the harvest.
4. 4. 
   To do what is needed or ought to be done regardless of what is enjoyable, preferable, or convenient—you milk the cow when she needs to be milked, not when you want to.
5. 5. 
   To be direct—with livestock and machinery involved, you don’t have time to “beat around the bush” or to worry about being politically correct. (In this respect, as I have served throughout the Church, I have often asked, “Do you want me to speak directly or with sugar?” As a rule the Saints have chosen “direct!” I will be direct today.)
6. 6. 
   Finally, as an Idaho farm boy, I learned to stick to the basics.
7. Nothing is more basic to all of us, and our doctrine, than the truths of the first article of faith: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son,Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:1).
8. Especially Important
9. With all that is happening in the Church today, and as the Lord is hastening His work on every side, it is even more critically important that we do all we do in His way!
   Especially in the work of salvation, we learn that “in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way” (Ether 12:11). The doctrine of Christ “is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 31:21).
   “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
   “Yea, I would declare unto every soul … the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God [and His ways], that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth” (Alma 29:1–2).
   Again, I witness the Lord has the way! Our Heavenly Father knows us, loves us, and wants to help. He knows best how to help. We are not spiritual orphans!

The second talk that Sister Maurer addressed was "Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness"

Agency is essential to the plan of happiness. It allows for the love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal progression. This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and the devastating evil choices of others. The very War in Heaven was waged over our moral agency and is essential to understanding the Savior’s earthly ministry.

Peace comes from knowing that the savior knows who we are.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

Sister Maurer gave the class the challenge to memorize her favorite scripture John 14: 27

 26 But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my ^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 27 ^aPeace I leave with you, my ^bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ^ctroubled, neither let it be afraid.

What are some obstacles to Peace?

* Busyness
* Choosing to Suffer
* Pride
* Worrying about decisions that our children make that will lead to sadness.

I am so thankful that Sister Maurer was given the opportunity to teach. I love hearing her point of view and learning from her wonderful example. I know that the Lord wants nothing more than happiness and peace for his children. I know that by following the Lord and following His chosen path that we will have the peace and the life that we desire. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I encourage you all to read the wonderful talks that were discussed on Sunday and I hope to see you all at the Relief Society Activity to celebrate our goal of reading The Book of Mormon!