Sunday, February 18, 2018

R.S. Lesson: Feb 18, 2018





Sister Hall taught our lesson today, on the talk:

by Sister Jones

We broke into groups and studied different parts of this talk, then presented our findings.

Here are just some of the quotes and “golden nuggets” that stood out to the groups.

A quote from Renu Singh, who was the first of five sisters in India to join the church:

“Before I had the gospel in my life, I was always trying to prove to others that I was someone special. But when I learned the truth, that I am a daughter of God, I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. I knew that I was special. … Don’t ever think that you are nothing.”

From the story of Taiana, a high school student who was diagnosed with terminal cancer:

When others asked, “Why you, Taiana?” her response was, “Why not me?” Taiana sought to become like her Savior, whom she so dearly loved. During our visits, I learned that Taiana understood her divine worth. Knowing she was a daughter of God gave her peace and courage to face her overwhelming trial in the positive way she did.

From President Spencer W. Kimball:

“God is your Father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure.… You are unique. One of a kind, made of the eternal intelligence which gives you claim upon eternal life… God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever.”

From President Brigham Young:

“The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth… is worth worlds.”

From Sister Jones:

worth and worthiness…are not the same. Spiritual worth means to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us, not as the world values us. Our worth was determined before we ever came to this earth.”



“…stop comparing our worst to someone else’s best.”

“When we feel the Spirit…recognize that what we feel comes from our Heavenly Father…acknowledge Him and praise Him for blessing us…then rejoice that we are counted worthy to receive.”

“We may seldom, if ever, receive huge spiritual manifestations in our lives; but we can frequently savor the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost verifying the truth of our spiritual worth.”

What golden nuggets do you find in Sister Jones’ talk?

R.S. Lesson: Feb 11, 2018



 


Here’s a belated overview of the lesson from February 11th:

by President Uchtdorf

President Uchtdorf’s talk is specifically about spiritual wellness. He says:
"Sometimes spiritual illness comes as a result of sin or emotional wounds. Sometimes spiritual breakdowns come so gradually that we can scarcely tell what is happening. Like layers of sedimentary rock, spiritual pain and grief can build over time, weighing upon our spirits until it is almost too heavy to bear. For example, this can happen when our responsibilities at work, home, and church become so overwhelming that we lose sight of the joy of the gospel. We might even feel as though we have no more to give or that living the commandments of God is beyond our strength.

But just because spiritual trials are real does not mean that they are incurable.

We can heal spiritually.

Even the deepest spiritual wounds—yes, even those that may appear to be incurable—can be healed."


We talked about ways to help ourselves (and others) fight out way back to spiritual wellness.

Here are the ways that President Uchtdorf mentions:
"Every time you turn your hearts to God in humble prayer, you experience His light. Every time you seek His word and will in the scriptures, the light grows in brightness. Every time you notice someone in need and sacrifice your own comfort to reach out in love, the light expands and swells. Every time you reject temptation and choose purity, every time you seek or extend forgiveness, every time you courageously testify of truth, the light chases away darkness and attracts others who are also seeking light and truth."

Darkness reduces our ability to see clearly. It dims our vision of that which was at one time plain and clear. When we are in darkness, we are more likely to make poor choices because we cannot see dangers in our path. When we are in darkness, we are more likely to lose hope because we cannot see the peace and joy that await us if we just keep pressing forward.


Here’s a picture of the white board from the lesson:



Question for Discussion: What have you found to be the most helpful in the battle against spiritual illness?