Snippets for Relief Society 2015 :) Use search term Ezra Taft Benson to view more for this week or for other weeks.
This lesson has several quotable gems. The two meme's used for Lesson 3 (photos with words like the one above) actually turned out to fit this lesson better, and I had no clue of this when I made them. By the way, even if you don't teach lesson 3 ~ it's a keeper. One you can read over and over whenever life is disheartening. Wonderful perspectives on hardship. These two lessons (3 & 4) are almost like a part one and part two of "How to handle life and come out ahead."
Speaking of which, this video is for you today! It sums up the whole lesson in 3 ½ minutes. Honest. It made me both laugh and cry. If you want to prime your heart up for this lesson quickly ~ please watch. You might try using the closed caption option (click the little "cc" box on the bottom right).
"Come What May, And Love It"
Joseph B. Wirthlin had gifted insights into people and social dynamics. I'll never forget the General Conference when he said:
"I am not aware of any sign on the door of our meetinghouses that reads “Restricted Entrance—Perfect People Only.” (April 2008 - Concern For The One)
President Benson is also lovable and a JOY to read. His wisdom is quite amazing. If you are a teacher this year, then the heavens smiled on you! Teaching this year is one of life's tender mercies.
The opening stories about President Benson are heart-touching. They are the kind of stories which remind us, in general, how good we have it. Some of the things I find to get upset over feel quite foolish as I read these accounts.
For example, while grocery shopping yesterday, my husband bought $140 worth of meat at prices my budget is not comfortable with. It really set me off. Truth is, we can handle it and he deserves it. Too bad I let the irritation get under my skin and have its way! Today I regret it and fully get the smallness of that moment.
Yes, I told my husband I was sorry and why.
This lesson teaches the skill of having joy ~ a rare commodity in today's world. When we finally turn the corner of understanding the gospel, not as a set of restrictions and sacrifices, but rather as a how-to "Ace Mortality & Get The Most Out Of It" guide ~ when we reach this enlightened perspective, then come those powerful gifts we can feel, see and appreciate.
The gospel brings me rich and joyful moments. This lesson is about how to have them more often.
At some moment, maybe because we get older, we notice how MUCH the heavens have been working in our lives. Such as putting events and circumstances in our path which have the capacity to elevate, strengthen, polish, give relief, teach, shed clarity and in general, make us wiser for the wear.
I'm sure Elder Uchtdorf, as a young boy in Nazi-occupied Germany - among all the dangerous, hard-luck, impoverished circumstances his family endured - never dreamed he would end up where he did.
It's a great story! It needs its own post but you can read it here as told by Russell M. Nelson.
Elder Uchtdorf's life was a process.
Ours is too.
The opening quote from the top of the lesson manual refers to that instance our eyes open and our perspective of life's challenges finally makes more sense to us in the grand scheme of things.
Such a different place then feeling picked on, ill-favored or passed over by the Powers above.
“Happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly [as in not begrudging or pouting], joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small.”
At first pass, this might seem like a tall order, but what President Benson is really describing here is trust. Trusting the process of both good and hard times, that they all lead to the same place...back to the Father. Trust is one of the greatest gifts we can give back to God. It's something we decide to do.
Trust also brings great peace and help our trials to have a different, more manageable look and feel to them.
Trust God. Trust the process, there is happiness in doing so.
"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9)
And believe this earth life was meant to bring you great understanding and valuable experiences even though they are often blessings in disguise!
I'm in my early 50's so I've had time to arrive at this point. Looking back, I can clearly see even the worst, most awful parts of my life were made to be conquered and overcome (even the ones I imposed on myself because of poor choices). In the end they made something more out of me.
Would I choose hardship purposely? No.
Would I pray for adversity because of how much growth comes of it? No.
Would I go through afflictions again knowing the rewards? Probably not.
Did they happen, and did I survive and did I come away with much more? Yes.
I get it. And so now I trust. Trust brings with it feelings of well-being. When those big setbacks come, they feel much different than they felt when I was younger. I look to the heavens and say "what now Lord"? instead of "Why me"?
As a result, my approach is different and I feel more equal to what I face. Sometimes, I'm even greater than what I face. The gospel knows how to make a powerful people out of us.
Possible Questions: How do our attitudes and perspectives on hardships and trials affect the outcome? What happens to us internally when we trust God as opposed to when we doubt He cares or notices? How can we as sisters make life better for those who are suffering through life's low points?
Ezra adds:
"Of all people, we as Latter-day Saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. For while we know that “peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion,” we are also assured that “the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst.” (D&C 1:35–36.)
HOWEVER...
What President Benson is not saying is we're supposed to feel at the height of joy all the time. Sometimes I've heard it put forth that if we're sad, conflicted, troubled, agitated, frustrated or anything else short of joyful, it must be because we're not living the gospel right or our testimony hasn't matured.
We're going to cry, worry, feel pain and be frustrated. President Benson (thankfully) says:
"We will all have disappointments and discouragements—that is part of life. But if we will have faith, our setbacks will be but a moment and success will come out of our seeming failures. Our Heavenly Father can accomplish miracles through each of us if we will but place our confidence and trust in Him."
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First, that is a stellar quote!
Second, it's ok to cry, to sorrow, to grieve, to worry, to be troubled or any other way we respond to hard trials (as long as it doesn't hurt others). What makes those responses not okay is choosing to hang out in sad land for extended periods of time, to be inconsolable, to embrace victimhood, to call the chips on our shoulders by name, and to wallow in homemade bitter sauce. In those cases, we probably missed what mortality is meant to show us.
Third, trust that all trials lead back to the Father IF we place confidence and trust in God. "...success will come out of our seeming failures."
Understanding where trials and afflictions lead us (even the self-imposed, hard consequences type) are one of life's secrets to success. We emerge from the other end with something significant gained if we trust enough to hold God's hand while enduring them.
"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." (Mosiah 24:14)
President Benson shares another tool to success when he quotes D&C 10:5 ~ Pray always, that you may come off conqueror..."
(Lesson 2 is an awesome review of just what prayer is.)
Indeed, the scriptures teach us how to be survivors and conquerors, not victims.
And who would know more about afflictions and deep waters than Joseph Smith? I love this story from the lesson:
"When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: “He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap."
There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.” (D&C 121:7–8.)
Possible Questions: Are trials and afflictions manifestations of unworthiness? (No!) How are trials and afflictions to our benefit? What words of comfort would you offer another sister who feels shut off from the heavens while passing through significant adversity?
Snippets On Cultivating Joy
Ezra Taft Benson outlines ways we can bring more joy into our lives. I love how frank he is on this matter:
"Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort."
He puts the responsibility for happiness on my shoulders. It is empowering to contemplate how happiness and joy is an effort and a decision ~ because I think I could probably help myself with that.
Happiness is an attitude. And what holds the attitude in place despite turmoil and the chaos of others is our trust in God and our outlook.
*****
What really struck me from the lesson today was considering what it meant when a powerful prophet who has lived many years tells us:
"We have no cause to really worry."
Seriously? With children, finances, marriages, health, adversarial people, (and the list goes on) we have no cause to worry?
It's possible and dear Ezra tells us how.
Live the gospel. (In other words, embrace it and increase it in your life.)
Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. (Lots of consistent prayer is key.)
TRY AND LIVE CALMLY AND CHEERFULLY. (Make a conscientious effort to do so. Practice makes perfect.)
*****
President Benson mentions more sure sources of joy:
[Press] on in noble endeavors.
"Pressing on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine."
At Education Week once I heard Mary Ellen Edmunds say true joy comes from using our gifts and talents on behalf of others. This has turned out to be very true in my life. This blog, for instance, is my ray of sunshine and brings me fulfillment and satisfaction. Find your passion which includes benefitting others and make it happen.
Possible Questions: What kinds of service or kindness to others has brought you joy? What happens to our worries when we busy ourselves with service and kind moments for others?
*****
"While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that you do have with a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful."
Does this remind you of the hymn "Count Your Blessings"?
What Ezra shares is a prophetic promise and one I've seen fulfilled in my own life. The blessings get more significant as we press on through difficult phases in our life. It's a pattern we start to become aware of as we get a few decades under our belt.
*****
President Benson admonishes us:
"Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love."
Remember in the video referred to above when Elder Wirthlin said when you start feeling angry, laugh instead? He was serious. I've challenged myself to experiment with this and see what happens. In fact, my teenage kiddos will be seeing the video tonight for FHE. Teaching our children to choose positive emotions is probably one of the greatest gifts we could send them into adulthood with.
What struck me about the last quote was how God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy. Yes, that's a pretty obvious statement, but what a succinct truth! God is Happiness. He is Light and Love. He is Enthusiasm. And even more importantly, He is the source of those things. Yes, we know he has consternation and even feels sadness over His children, but in what balance? If God is doing it, then I should live enthusiastically and joyfully too.
"To live perfectly is to live happily. To live happily is to grow in spiritual strength toward perfection."
Another source of happiness is to increase our dedication to gospel living.
****
President Ezra Taft Benson summed up the whole idea of joy and how to obtain it with this simple, elegant truth. See how it strikes you:
"Let us remember that the real source of our strength and happiness is beyond the reach of men and circumstances."
Possible Closing Class Discussion: What is the lasting source of our strength and happiness? Where can we go when we need more? What happens to us when we develop a prayerful, close, trusting relationship with God? What are some of the effects? What can we do to make conscious contact with God every day?
Bless you for being here and for your prep. Your group of sisters greatly benefits from the time you put in. Love and peace always!
Possible Hymns:
You Can Make A Pathway Bright #228 (great lyrics)
Count Your Blessings #241 (Of course)
Scatter Sunshine #230 (overcoming sadness with kind deeds)
Handout Ideas:
Miniature plaques ~ For the more handy of us.
Cute Free Printables ~ this is "prayer" but you can search other words too.
President Benson Quotes To Share:
Pinterest
Facebook
Conference Talk:
Elder Uchtdorf's Story
Video:
"Come What May, And Love It"
Teaching Tips:
Nine Tips For Memorable Teaching
 |
| Seriously my new motto. |
Speaking of which, this video is for you today! It sums up the whole lesson in 3 ½ minutes. Honest. It made me both laugh and cry. If you want to prime your heart up for this lesson quickly ~ please watch. You might try using the closed caption option (click the little "cc" box on the bottom right).
"Come What May, And Love It"
Joseph B. Wirthlin had gifted insights into people and social dynamics. I'll never forget the General Conference when he said:
"I am not aware of any sign on the door of our meetinghouses that reads “Restricted Entrance—Perfect People Only.” (April 2008 - Concern For The One)
President Benson is also lovable and a JOY to read. His wisdom is quite amazing. If you are a teacher this year, then the heavens smiled on you! Teaching this year is one of life's tender mercies.
The opening stories about President Benson are heart-touching. They are the kind of stories which remind us, in general, how good we have it. Some of the things I find to get upset over feel quite foolish as I read these accounts.
For example, while grocery shopping yesterday, my husband bought $140 worth of meat at prices my budget is not comfortable with. It really set me off. Truth is, we can handle it and he deserves it. Too bad I let the irritation get under my skin and have its way! Today I regret it and fully get the smallness of that moment.
Yes, I told my husband I was sorry and why.
This lesson teaches the skill of having joy ~ a rare commodity in today's world. When we finally turn the corner of understanding the gospel, not as a set of restrictions and sacrifices, but rather as a how-to "Ace Mortality & Get The Most Out Of It" guide ~ when we reach this enlightened perspective, then come those powerful gifts we can feel, see and appreciate.
The gospel brings me rich and joyful moments. This lesson is about how to have them more often.
At some moment, maybe because we get older, we notice how MUCH the heavens have been working in our lives. Such as putting events and circumstances in our path which have the capacity to elevate, strengthen, polish, give relief, teach, shed clarity and in general, make us wiser for the wear.
I'm sure Elder Uchtdorf, as a young boy in Nazi-occupied Germany - among all the dangerous, hard-luck, impoverished circumstances his family endured - never dreamed he would end up where he did.
It's a great story! It needs its own post but you can read it here as told by Russell M. Nelson.
Elder Uchtdorf's life was a process.
Ours is too.
The opening quote from the top of the lesson manual refers to that instance our eyes open and our perspective of life's challenges finally makes more sense to us in the grand scheme of things.
Such a different place then feeling picked on, ill-favored or passed over by the Powers above.
“Happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly [as in not begrudging or pouting], joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small.”
At first pass, this might seem like a tall order, but what President Benson is really describing here is trust. Trusting the process of both good and hard times, that they all lead to the same place...back to the Father. Trust is one of the greatest gifts we can give back to God. It's something we decide to do.
Trust also brings great peace and help our trials to have a different, more manageable look and feel to them.
Trust God. Trust the process, there is happiness in doing so.
"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9)
And believe this earth life was meant to bring you great understanding and valuable experiences even though they are often blessings in disguise!
I'm in my early 50's so I've had time to arrive at this point. Looking back, I can clearly see even the worst, most awful parts of my life were made to be conquered and overcome (even the ones I imposed on myself because of poor choices). In the end they made something more out of me.
Would I choose hardship purposely? No.
Would I pray for adversity because of how much growth comes of it? No.
Would I go through afflictions again knowing the rewards? Probably not.
Did they happen, and did I survive and did I come away with much more? Yes.
I get it. And so now I trust. Trust brings with it feelings of well-being. When those big setbacks come, they feel much different than they felt when I was younger. I look to the heavens and say "what now Lord"? instead of "Why me"?
As a result, my approach is different and I feel more equal to what I face. Sometimes, I'm even greater than what I face. The gospel knows how to make a powerful people out of us.
Possible Questions: How do our attitudes and perspectives on hardships and trials affect the outcome? What happens to us internally when we trust God as opposed to when we doubt He cares or notices? How can we as sisters make life better for those who are suffering through life's low points?
Ezra adds:
"Of all people, we as Latter-day Saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. For while we know that “peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion,” we are also assured that “the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst.” (D&C 1:35–36.)
HOWEVER...
What President Benson is not saying is we're supposed to feel at the height of joy all the time. Sometimes I've heard it put forth that if we're sad, conflicted, troubled, agitated, frustrated or anything else short of joyful, it must be because we're not living the gospel right or our testimony hasn't matured.
We're going to cry, worry, feel pain and be frustrated. President Benson (thankfully) says:
"We will all have disappointments and discouragements—that is part of life. But if we will have faith, our setbacks will be but a moment and success will come out of our seeming failures. Our Heavenly Father can accomplish miracles through each of us if we will but place our confidence and trust in Him."
First, that is a stellar quote!
Second, it's ok to cry, to sorrow, to grieve, to worry, to be troubled or any other way we respond to hard trials (as long as it doesn't hurt others). What makes those responses not okay is choosing to hang out in sad land for extended periods of time, to be inconsolable, to embrace victimhood, to call the chips on our shoulders by name, and to wallow in homemade bitter sauce. In those cases, we probably missed what mortality is meant to show us.
Third, trust that all trials lead back to the Father IF we place confidence and trust in God. "...success will come out of our seeming failures."
Understanding where trials and afflictions lead us (even the self-imposed, hard consequences type) are one of life's secrets to success. We emerge from the other end with something significant gained if we trust enough to hold God's hand while enduring them.
"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." (Mosiah 24:14)
President Benson shares another tool to success when he quotes D&C 10:5 ~ Pray always, that you may come off conqueror..."
(Lesson 2 is an awesome review of just what prayer is.)
Indeed, the scriptures teach us how to be survivors and conquerors, not victims.
And who would know more about afflictions and deep waters than Joseph Smith? I love this story from the lesson:
"When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: “He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap."
There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.” (D&C 121:7–8.)
Possible Questions: Are trials and afflictions manifestations of unworthiness? (No!) How are trials and afflictions to our benefit? What words of comfort would you offer another sister who feels shut off from the heavens while passing through significant adversity?
Snippets On Cultivating Joy
Ezra Taft Benson outlines ways we can bring more joy into our lives. I love how frank he is on this matter:
"Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort."
He puts the responsibility for happiness on my shoulders. It is empowering to contemplate how happiness and joy is an effort and a decision ~ because I think I could probably help myself with that.
Happiness is an attitude. And what holds the attitude in place despite turmoil and the chaos of others is our trust in God and our outlook.
*****
What really struck me from the lesson today was considering what it meant when a powerful prophet who has lived many years tells us:
"We have no cause to really worry."
Seriously? With children, finances, marriages, health, adversarial people, (and the list goes on) we have no cause to worry?
It's possible and dear Ezra tells us how.
Live the gospel. (In other words, embrace it and increase it in your life.)
Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. (Lots of consistent prayer is key.)
TRY AND LIVE CALMLY AND CHEERFULLY. (Make a conscientious effort to do so. Practice makes perfect.)
*****
President Benson mentions more sure sources of joy:
[Press] on in noble endeavors.
"Pressing on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine."
At Education Week once I heard Mary Ellen Edmunds say true joy comes from using our gifts and talents on behalf of others. This has turned out to be very true in my life. This blog, for instance, is my ray of sunshine and brings me fulfillment and satisfaction. Find your passion which includes benefitting others and make it happen.
Possible Questions: What kinds of service or kindness to others has brought you joy? What happens to our worries when we busy ourselves with service and kind moments for others?
*****
"While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that you do have with a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful."
Does this remind you of the hymn "Count Your Blessings"?
What Ezra shares is a prophetic promise and one I've seen fulfilled in my own life. The blessings get more significant as we press on through difficult phases in our life. It's a pattern we start to become aware of as we get a few decades under our belt.
*****
President Benson admonishes us:
"Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love."
Remember in the video referred to above when Elder Wirthlin said when you start feeling angry, laugh instead? He was serious. I've challenged myself to experiment with this and see what happens. In fact, my teenage kiddos will be seeing the video tonight for FHE. Teaching our children to choose positive emotions is probably one of the greatest gifts we could send them into adulthood with.
What struck me about the last quote was how God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy. Yes, that's a pretty obvious statement, but what a succinct truth! God is Happiness. He is Light and Love. He is Enthusiasm. And even more importantly, He is the source of those things. Yes, we know he has consternation and even feels sadness over His children, but in what balance? If God is doing it, then I should live enthusiastically and joyfully too.
"To live perfectly is to live happily. To live happily is to grow in spiritual strength toward perfection."
Another source of happiness is to increase our dedication to gospel living.
****
President Ezra Taft Benson summed up the whole idea of joy and how to obtain it with this simple, elegant truth. See how it strikes you:
"Let us remember that the real source of our strength and happiness is beyond the reach of men and circumstances."
Possible Closing Class Discussion: What is the lasting source of our strength and happiness? Where can we go when we need more? What happens to us when we develop a prayerful, close, trusting relationship with God? What are some of the effects? What can we do to make conscious contact with God every day?
Bless you for being here and for your prep. Your group of sisters greatly benefits from the time you put in. Love and peace always!
Possible Hymns:
You Can Make A Pathway Bright #228 (great lyrics)
Count Your Blessings #241 (Of course)
Scatter Sunshine #230 (overcoming sadness with kind deeds)
Handout Ideas:
Miniature plaques ~ For the more handy of us.
Cute Free Printables ~ this is "prayer" but you can search other words too.
President Benson Quotes To Share:
Conference Talk:
Elder Uchtdorf's Story
Video:
"Come What May, And Love It"
Teaching Tips:
Nine Tips For Memorable Teaching