Todd Petrocek led our discussion this afternoon on the Joseph Smith lesson about cultivating peace and harmony in our lives. He listed the following "environments" in which we exist and asked where we feel the most peace and where we feel the most conflict:
self --> family (wife, kids) --> work --> ward --> community -->
state/nation --> world
We read the account in the manual of Joseph's calm, peaceful, and friendly response to an angry mob's encounter with him (see p. 341). How can we emulate this example? It was suggested that praying when we're in a situation that can easily spawn conflict is always a good antidote, even if you are at work. One person said we should always remember who we are when we're in a situation that could lead us to do or say something wrong. We are a Christian, a priesthood holder, a father - all the time. It was also mentioned that back-biting, gossip, and fault-finding can be sources of disharmony, especially in the workplace. Rather than "pile on", we should look for ways to distance ourselves from these conversations, offer up something positive, or use humor to diffuse the situation.
Two recent general conference talks have some great material about this subject: "The Tongue of Angels" by Elder Holland and "Our Hearts Knit as One " by Pres. Eyring.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Ward mission plan
Bishop Beecroft and Andrew Poulsen led today's combined lesson with the Relief Society. It was centered on developing a ward mission plan, with the major goal of having each household extend at least one invitation per month to a non-member. The invitation could be to a social event (such as the Yankee Swap or the primary Halloween party), a church service (such as sacrament meeting or a baptism), to a family home evening, or to hear the missionary lessons. Bishop Beecroft said that if every household does this there will be approx. 750 invitations extended to non-members in 2009!
Andrew discussed how each unit of the ward (RS, YW, YM, Primary, EQ, HP, Bishopric) is responsible for creating and planning ways for its members to participate in this ward plan.
Leilani Daines (RS) and Jonathan (EQ) each briefly discussed how their respective groups will be attacking this. Dave Boyce is leading a sub-group in our quorum that will be exploring this in the coming weeks -- more to come!
Andrew discussed how each unit of the ward (RS, YW, YM, Primary, EQ, HP, Bishopric) is responsible for creating and planning ways for its members to participate in this ward plan.
Leilani Daines (RS) and Jonathan (EQ) each briefly discussed how their respective groups will be attacking this. Dave Boyce is leading a sub-group in our quorum that will be exploring this in the coming weeks -- more to come!
TFOT Lesson - Simplicity in our lives
Tony Pullen led our lesson on simplicity, taken from Elder Perry's Oct. conference talk entitled Let Him do it with Simplicity. He framed the lesson based on Elder Perry's reference to Henry David Thoreau's theory that all one needs to survive is food, clothing, shelter, and fuel. Tony then drew a chart on the board with these four things on the far left and two columns beside them titled "simple" and "benefits". We explored what it meant to live simply in these four areas and what the benefits of this kind of life are.
FOOD: follow Word of Wisdom, store some away ---> health, peace of mind
CLOTHING: dress modestly ---> less focus on self (humility)
SHELTER: living within means ---> peace of mind, minimal debt
FUEL (spiritual): knowledge, experience, love ---> testimony, blessing to others
It was commented that with clothing and shelter, in particular, these tend to differentiate or divide us as people, rather than unify us. And, further, that while these four areas are eminently tangible, the benefits are mostly intangible.
FOOD: follow Word of Wisdom, store some away ---> health, peace of mind
CLOTHING: dress modestly ---> less focus on self (humility)
SHELTER: living within means ---> peace of mind, minimal debt
FUEL (spiritual): knowledge, experience, love ---> testimony, blessing to others
It was commented that with clothing and shelter, in particular, these tend to differentiate or divide us as people, rather than unify us. And, further, that while these four areas are eminently tangible, the benefits are mostly intangible.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Lesson 26: Elijah & the Sealing Power
Today's lesson was on the restoration of the sealing power through Elijah. We discussed the remarkable events that occurred the week prior to the April 3, 1836 revelation to Joseph and Oliver. The Kirtland temple dedication and the spiritual manifestations associated with this event were a great blessing to the saints. Yet, the Lord had more in store for them. A week later, the Savior, followed by Moses, Elias, and Elijah, appear to Joseph & Oliver in the temple. The latter restored the keys of the sealing power thus enabling the Church to have the authority to bind in heaven what is bound on earth.
We puzzled over why this restoration of sealing powers came so late after the re-organization of the Church, and why it was that Elijah (rather than another prophet, or the Lord Himself) was the messenger of this great power.
Finally, we discussed the great unity that comes from the restoration of this power to seal. What Elijah brought was not simply a heightened spirit of family history work, or even the ability to seal parents and children together for the eternities. In fact, through this divine power, the entire family of God can be united - past, present, and future. Jesus prayed to the Father more than once that we would be one as They are one. Coming to a "unity of the faith" (Eph. 4:13) is inextricably tied to the establishment of Zion. The sealing power is a merciful gift from heaven made possible by the Lord Jesus Christ and committed into the hands of His faithful servants for the unification of His Father's children. Without this, the Lord would(as Malachi states) "smite the earth with a curse" (Mal. 4:6).
We puzzled over why this restoration of sealing powers came so late after the re-organization of the Church, and why it was that Elijah (rather than another prophet, or the Lord Himself) was the messenger of this great power.
Finally, we discussed the great unity that comes from the restoration of this power to seal. What Elijah brought was not simply a heightened spirit of family history work, or even the ability to seal parents and children together for the eternities. In fact, through this divine power, the entire family of God can be united - past, present, and future. Jesus prayed to the Father more than once that we would be one as They are one. Coming to a "unity of the faith" (Eph. 4:13) is inextricably tied to the establishment of Zion. The sealing power is a merciful gift from heaven made possible by the Lord Jesus Christ and committed into the hands of His faithful servants for the unification of His Father's children. Without this, the Lord would(as Malachi states) "smite the earth with a curse" (Mal. 4:6).
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Lesson 27: Apostasy
Today's lesson on apostasy was led by Brandon Westover. He started by discussing the difference between "inactivity" and "apostasy". It was posited that inactivity is passive neglect whereas apostasy is pro-active antagonism. Brandon quoted a passage from C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce which basically made the point that a man's road to apostasy is paved with good intentions, that a person can get to a point where they sincerely believe in what they're doing even if what they're doing is wrong.
Two points were made to help as a defense against apostasy. First, examine your motives and discern what kind of spirit you are feeling when you are finding fault with church leaders or doctrine. Is the criticism made in a spirit of love, humility, and a desire for the well being of the church/leader? Or, is it made in a spirit of contention, pride, and a desire (above all) for being right? Second, remember that despite the many faults and weaknesses of our leaders, they have been anointed and called by the Lord. Respect the calling and the Source of that calling.
I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.
Joseph Smith (July 2, 1839)
Two points were made to help as a defense against apostasy. First, examine your motives and discern what kind of spirit you are feeling when you are finding fault with church leaders or doctrine. Is the criticism made in a spirit of love, humility, and a desire for the well being of the church/leader? Or, is it made in a spirit of contention, pride, and a desire (above all) for being right? Second, remember that despite the many faults and weaknesses of our leaders, they have been anointed and called by the Lord. Respect the calling and the Source of that calling.
I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.
Joseph Smith (July 2, 1839)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
1/25/09 Lesson: Sacrament meeting
Keith Dionne led a fantastic discussion about sacrament and sacrament meeting. We agreed on the premise that our main purpose for being at church each week is to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament. A discussion of the following topics ensued:
- How can we help our children be reverent during the sacrament? Ideas: Quietly whisper to them stories about Jesus, be an example of reverence ourselves to show them how sacred this time is.
- What else can we do to make this weekly ordinance more significant in our lives? Ideas: take turns as families making (or at least, buying) the bread, offer more MP holders the opportunity to bless the sacrament.
- How should we handle the partaking of the sacrament with our non-member friends? Explain that it represents our willingness to follow Christ and invite them to participate if they feel comfortable doing so, explain before the meeting that the sacrament represents our re-commitment to our baptismal covenants, use the "do no harm" litmus test (is the offense of not being permitted to participate going to overwhelm the good of them being in attendance?).
- How can we help our children be reverent during the sacrament? Ideas: Quietly whisper to them stories about Jesus, be an example of reverence ourselves to show them how sacred this time is.
- What else can we do to make this weekly ordinance more significant in our lives? Ideas: take turns as families making (or at least, buying) the bread, offer more MP holders the opportunity to bless the sacrament.
- How should we handle the partaking of the sacrament with our non-member friends? Explain that it represents our willingness to follow Christ and invite them to participate if they feel comfortable doing so, explain before the meeting that the sacrament represents our re-commitment to our baptismal covenants, use the "do no harm" litmus test (is the offense of not being permitted to participate going to overwhelm the good of them being in attendance?).
Saturday, January 17, 2009
1/11/09 Lesson: Our duty as Priesthood holders
As part of our ward conference, Pres. Lazenby led a discussion in priesthood meeting about our duty as men and priesthood holders, playing off the message about duty from Pres. Low's talk in sacrament meeting.
First and foremost, we should be living in a way that enables us to receive and understand the messages from our Heavenly Father, through the Holy Ghost, about how we can best fulfill our various responsibilities in this life. It is critical that we be spiritual leaders in our homes - taking responsibility for ensuring that family home evening, prayer, and scripture study are happening regularly in our families. We should also be seizing opportunities to teach our children gospel principles, realizing that the best opportunities are rarely ones that we plan for!
There was considerable discussion around the issue of priorities. What should take precedence over what in our lives? Pres. Low suggested that we put our wives first, children second, jobs (providing for family) third, and church activities fourth. Bro. Wingate referenced Elder Oaks' talk "Good, Better, and Best" from the October 2007 conference as a good reminder that we need to focus on the best ways to use our time.
First and foremost, we should be living in a way that enables us to receive and understand the messages from our Heavenly Father, through the Holy Ghost, about how we can best fulfill our various responsibilities in this life. It is critical that we be spiritual leaders in our homes - taking responsibility for ensuring that family home evening, prayer, and scripture study are happening regularly in our families. We should also be seizing opportunities to teach our children gospel principles, realizing that the best opportunities are rarely ones that we plan for!
There was considerable discussion around the issue of priorities. What should take precedence over what in our lives? Pres. Low suggested that we put our wives first, children second, jobs (providing for family) third, and church activities fourth. Bro. Wingate referenced Elder Oaks' talk "Good, Better, and Best" from the October 2007 conference as a good reminder that we need to focus on the best ways to use our time.
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