Snippets for Relief Society 2015 :) Use search term Ezra Taft Benson to view more for this week or for other weeks.
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In this lesson, President Benson takes us through some of the most fundamental building blocks of having an enduring testimony of Christ.
Warning ~ this lesson is ground-shaking and had a profound effect on me. What a joy to share it with each other today! There is also an unusual amount of discussion-worthy material, so we all have the difficult job of picking and choosing which parts we'll emphasize and teach.
The first read-thru or two, had me skimming through the first parts of the lesson quicker and contemplating the end of the lesson more. But those first parts have since made their way to the center of my focus. In fact, they have pretty much enveloped my emotions and thoughts this past week.
The truths Ezra touches on are majestic, but easy to take for granted and I've allowed them to become background gospel thoughts more often than not.
Christ's royal heritage as the Only Begotten is spoken of frequently, yet for me it has become a "given," so I don't meditate on it so much. But it is spoken of often for a reason (we'll get to that).
The resurrection is a guaranteed gift we don't have to do a thing for, so truthfully it doesn't get as much deserved pondering either.
While the Atonement is significant, talking about it is so second nature, it's been a while since it sank into the depths of my soul like it has the last few days.
And yet these basic truths are more tremendous than our words can frame and an important part of knowing Christ.
Thank you President Ezra Taft Benson for pointing the way! (Love this prophet.)
The first element of the lesson which struck me was a simple sentence which the lesson really doesn't emphasize much:
"I was reared in a home by faithful parents who earnestly believed in and testified of Christ, for which I am most grateful.”
Do my children know how I feel about Christ? When was the last time I purposely and conscientiously testified of Christ and re-affirmed my strongest understandings?
Our family will be having a sit-down either this Sunday or Monday and we're going to discuss what we know, what we believe and what we understand of Christ. Whether it's a spouse, children or other close friends ~ it's a conversation we all want to have at least occasionally.
The lesson!
Although Ezra names a list of vital truths to know about Jesus, he expounds on them in a different order so we'll follow his train of thought, rather than the order of the list.
He was able to accomplish His mission because He was the Son of God and He possessed the power of God.
"No mortal being had the power or capability to redeem all other mortals from their lost and fallen condition, nor could any other voluntarily forfeit his life and thereby bring to pass a universal resurrection for all other mortals."
"His unique heredity made Him heir to the honored title—The Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh. As the Son of God, He inherited powers and intelligence which no human ever had before or since. He was literally Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'"
President Benson also mentions Jesus was born in such a way to preserve His godhood. He had a mortal mother and an immortal Father.
For me, what really helped me understand just who was this Man is, and what are His credentials to be THE ONE born with such a mother and Father came from a mind-bending description quoted in an old retired New Testament manual:
"President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, “Astronomers now yield what they did not formerly yield, that there may have been many, and probably were, many worlds like ours. Some say there were in this galaxy perhaps from its beginning, one million worlds like unto this one."
“‘Worlds without number have I created,’ through ‘mine Only Begotten Son.’ I repeat, our Lord is not a novice, he is not an amateur; he has been over this course time and time and time again."
“And if you think of this galaxy of ours having within it from the beginning perhaps until now, one million worlds, and multiply that by the number of millions of galaxies, one hundred million galaxies [now documented to be billions], that surround us, you will then get some view of who this Man we worship is.” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Behold the Lamb of God, Deseret Book Company, 1962, pp. 16–17.)
Among the billions of creations, He created our very Earth with all its mountains, valleys, rivers, sunsets and creatures before He was born. On top of that, He was God of the Old Testament (Jehovah) with all the comings and goings and the makings of a God accomplished in Him already. It wasn't just anyone selected at random to have a mortal mother and an immortal Father in order to pull off what He did ~ it was HIM with an unimaginable résumé and stature already intact.
I just love His name from the Old Testament ~ I AM.
Possible Questions: How does learning about the Savior's origins help us worship and revere Christ? Does it inspire trust? What happens to our faith when we decide to accept and trust the Savior? (For me, it brings me great joy to know just who my Redeemer is.)
Jesus came to earth to do our Father's will.
Perhaps one of the most important examples Jesus set before us is His singular purpose for being here. He came to teach, suffer, lead, endure, love, atone, resurrect and everything else because our Father wanted Him to.
The question becomes....how much could our own lives emulate this?
"Even though He was God’s Son sent to earth, the divine plan of the Father required that Jesus be subjected to all the difficulties and tribulations of mortality. Thus He became subject to “temptations, … hunger, thirst, and fatigue.”
Christ, who had the power to be born in any circumstance of wealth, privilege, or status chose to appear among the most humblest. He was born in an animal stall and slept in a feeding trough. Today, we use romantic words like manger and stable to soften it up, but the fact is, it was anything but romantic. Especially among all the smells of what animals do.
Now that's a STATEMENT. It is the epitome of irony for the Creator of the Universe to choose such lowly trappings for His mortal life. There's a message there. Perhaps it's not about having the big, beautiful Martha Stewart house? (I've had one of those - on the modest side - for the last seven years so I get to ponder this honestly.)
In fact, President Benson makes a bold comment later in the lesson, one which has the capacity to bring great happiness, clarity, direction and well-being to our lives. But it's hard even for dedicated and wonderful Saints to hear and face straight on.
"That [person] is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. [Christ made this very point quite clear through the example of His own life.] The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life."
The majority of people I know, including my own household spend a fair amount of time chasing worldly success like wealth, education, social status, etc. So no judgments here, just some hard-earned introspection of how much I'm gong to look back and regret not spending a greater portion of time on lasting endeavors.
We really won't be taking our bank accounts, beauty contest trophies, certificates of achievement, FB friend lists and houses with us. No wonder Christ made sure His life had nothing to do with those things. I heard it said somewhere, "you were born naked and will go out of this world the same way." The only thing we take with us is the essence and condition of our souls.
President Benson's point? When we look at Christ and get to know Christ, how much of His life and His priorities are reflected in ours?
Boy, that is the question of the day isn't it?
Jesus also knew rejection, persecution, accusations, ridicule, grief, disappointment, temptation, abandonment, irony and injustice.
But all such mortal challenges lead somewhere significant.
"To qualify as the Redeemer of all our Father’s children, Jesus had to be perfectly obedient to all the laws of God. Because He subjected Himself to the will of the Father, He grew “from grace to grace, until he received a fulness” of the Father’s power. Thus He had “all power, both in heaven and on earth.”
Our "will" is of divine origin which Jesus spoke of over and over and modeled what to do with our wills. I love this description from Neal A Maxwell and then one from Lorenzo Snow:
“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him” (Ensign, Aug. 2000).
Neal A Maxwell artfully sums up the essence of will. The beautiful result of submitting our will like Christ - is the empowered, confident soul it produces in each of us who understands this principle and then applies it.
Lorenzo Snow adds:
“We should bring our wills into subjection to the will of the Father, and feel to say, what is the will of our Father, whom we are here in the world to serve? Then every act that we perform will be a success.” (Lorenzo Snow Lesson 11)
Possible Questions: How does worldly success often claim more notice and praise than success in Christ-like living? Would contemplating the Father's will in "each act that we perform" make a difference in how your day is spent? Or how you interact with others?
He came with a foreknowledge that He would bear the burden of the sins of us all. He knew he would be lifted up on the cross.
President Benson quotes a rather poignant verse from Isaiah:
¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [In other words, He appeared without favor and quite insignificant to us, relatively few people would recognize His true stature.]
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Jesus was an often-dismissed person with feelings and pain. There's a similar message there as well. The notice and acclaim of the world is not the pinnacle of being in God's world. The "meek and lowly shall inherit the earth." It will probably surprise quite a few of us just who ends up with the larger stature, the brighter countenance and higher levels of nobility and greatness on the other side of the veil.
Ezra Taft Benson frames the Atonement for us:
"That holy, unselfish act of voluntarily taking on Himself the sins of all other men is the Atonement. How One could bear the sins for all is beyond the comprehension of mortal man. But this I know: He did take on Himself the sins of all and did so out of His infinite love for each of us. He has said: “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; … which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.” (D&C 19:16, 18.)
"In spite of that excruciating ordeal, He took the cup and drank. He suffered the pains of all men so we would not have to suffer. He endured the humiliation and insults of His persecutors without complaint or retaliation. He bore the flogging and then the ignominy of the brutal execution—the cross."
This gives one pause doesn't it?
When I was really young, my grandfather used to fascinate my brother and I with a rock polisher he made from a coffee can attached to a motor. We would put pretty rocks in and they would came out beautiful, shiny and polished. They became our important treasures.
Inspired words have a way of tumbling around in our inner most places of understanding, and working their magic on us. I suppose that's why we're supposed to study regularly...so that process can have a chance to take place.
Ezra said something about the Atonement in lesson 5 which has tumbled my heart and soul around inside of me ever since.
"Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore."
The deep realization that I, Shawnie, have put many stripes on the Man's back over the years, hit me like it has at no other time. I've repented, been sorry and reformed myself ~ but I don't think I've ever stopped to contemplate how it actually made Jesus FEEL. Even though He was capable of atoning for us, and offered it ~ He is a person with feelings and He hurt. Isaiah used the words "wounded, bruised, chastised, and stripes" (marks left from whipping). I personally gave Him pain and contributed stripes to His back.
Have I ever directly said sorry for hurting Him? When have I ever said a purposeful thank you in recognition of how much my fails, follies, and liberties must have agonized and stressed Him?
If you have any tears right now, welcome to my world. I can send my tears His way through prayer, but I achingly want that moment to face Him and say so sorry and thank you so much all in the same breath.
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Sometimes when we're counseled to apply the Atonement in our lives, we're not fully counseled just how one accomplishes this task successfully. Fortunately, the Only Begotten Son established the Sacrament ordinance to walk us through those steps. He literally puts the Atonement in our laps every week.
Elder John H. Groberg made a compelling observation about Christ's last moments of suffering on on the cross:
"I love the Savior. I feel that as he hung upon the cross and looked out over the dark scene, he saw more than mocking soldiers and cruel taunters. He saw more than crying women and fearful friends. He remembered and saw even more than women at wells or crowds on hills or throngs by seashores. He saw more, much more. He, who knows all and has all power, saw through the stream of time. His huge, magnanimous, loving soul encompassed all eternity and took in all people and all times and all sins and all forgiveness and all everything. Yes, he saw down to you and to me and provided us an all-encompassing opportunity to escape the terrible consequences of death and sin." (General Conference April 1989)
We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
This short video perfectly sums this up so far: Favorite Christ Video (2 ½ minutes)
Possible Class Discussion: Now would be a perfect time to express how you personally feel about the Savior and why? Invite the other sisters to do the same. It enlarges our souls to share testimonies of the Savior with each other.
He was born to be the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
Looking up "redeem" in the dictionary turned up these three definitions:
redeem : to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable
: to exchange (something, such as a coupon or lottery ticket) for money, an award, etc.
: to buy back (something, such as a stock or bond)
Using these three definitions we could define Redeemer as : another name for Christ. He exchanged himself in our places and took our stripes, in order to buy back our eternal lives and to make a terrible outcome turn into a much better, glorious one.
In the lesson manual, President Benson specifically uses "Redeemer" when referencing the resurrection. He also talks about resurrection as one of the greatest events in human history:
"The greatest events of history are those that affect the greatest number of people for the longest periods. By this standard, no event could be more important to individuals or nations than the resurrection of the Master."
"The literal resurrection of every soul who has lived and died on earth is a certainty, and surely one should make careful preparation for this event. A glorious resurrection should be the goal of every man and woman, for resurrection will be a reality."
By a means I don't entirely comprehend, Jesus made the resurrection happen. What do we know? Only a perfect being with god-like stature could reunite his own spirit with his body and give it eternal life. Once He opened this portal, others could all be resurrected as well. Somehow He bought us back.
Resurrection is pure gift and truly a remarkable concept. When you and I stop to explore the idea of resurrection, it manifests itself as one of those magnificent promises we have complete good fortune in. It's not owed to us, it's an opportunity we shouted for joy over - once upon a time.
Perhaps someday there will be an abundant amount of soul-felt thanks for this as well.
Possible Class Discussion: Why is the resurrection comforting and strengthening? What would happen to the meaning of this life if there were no resurrection? Would you live your life differently?
He was willing to accomplish His mission because He loves us.
President Benson asks pertinent questions:
"Why is it expedient that we center our confidence, our hope, and our trust in one solitary figure? Why is faith in Him so necessary to peace of mind in this life and hope in the world to come?"
"Our answers to these questions determine whether we face the future with courage, hope, and optimism or with apprehension, anxiety, and pessimism."
Nothing helps having faith in Him along, than knowing how much He loves you already.
Let's change the last word in the sub-title above to "me."
"He was willing to accomplish His mission because He loves me."
Sometimes it's hard to picture the Savior being so keenly interested in specifically just you...directly. We wonder how He could possibly distinguish us or take too much notice of us from among a sea of souls. And given our mortal natures, we don't always naturally feel so close to Heaven either.
Nonetheless the Savior is very personable, which He reveals through His invitations made directly to you:
62 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (D&C 88:62-23)
And a well-known one:
28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Here's another powerful one:
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
There's more!
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne (whoa, right?) even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
This next one is mind-bending...I mean made equal? With Him? That's pretty personalized esteem right there:
107 And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him. (D&C 88:107)
He extends more than salvation, and exaltation. Jesus personally extends the invitation to become His joint-heir (Romans 8:17). To live with Him and dwell with Him for billions of eons and beyond.
So a lot of love and esteem there. What is Christ's motivation? To do His Father's will and because He wants to give you just what He has. All of it.
Why is comprehending this love so important?
Most Saints understand the Atonement, the Garden of Gethsemane, the resurrection and Christ's sacrifice for us. It is the offer of an everyday Christ that gets under-utilized or perhaps never learned. He will indeed become one with us every single day, as we strive to be near Him. It is He who enlightens our minds, our understanding and sends ideas and revelation our way (through the Spirit - D&C 88:6-13).
His companionship is warm and uplifting, endeared and faithful. As we strive to bring the Spirit into our lives, as we open up our hearts to the possibilities of His influence and presence, we will enrich and deepen the quality of our spiritual experiences and our lives.
President Benson says it so wonderfully:
Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him. As God, He has infinite power, intelligence, and love. There is no human problem beyond His capacity to solve. Because He descended below all things (see D&C 122:8), He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties.
Mortality is hard. It is SO hard! But we are not left without rich resources to draw on, with the Savior being our greatest asset. Understanding who Jesus is, what He purposes for us and what He has done already ~ helps us to better know Him and take advantage of all He offers us.
Possible Class Discussion: What are some of the ways you have felt your Savior's love? How could you help someone else feel His love? We are counseled to develop a personal relationship with the Savior ~ what are some ways we can do this?
Possible Hymns:
God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son #187 (Perfect hymn! Verses 1-4)
I Stand All Amazed #193
I Know That My Redeemer Lives #136 (Very sweet)
Possible Lesson Handouts:
Cute & Quick Object Lesson
Fun Treat
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Video: Favorite Christ Video
Nine Tips For Memorable Teaching
In this lesson, President Benson takes us through some of the most fundamental building blocks of having an enduring testimony of Christ.
Warning ~ this lesson is ground-shaking and had a profound effect on me. What a joy to share it with each other today! There is also an unusual amount of discussion-worthy material, so we all have the difficult job of picking and choosing which parts we'll emphasize and teach.
The first read-thru or two, had me skimming through the first parts of the lesson quicker and contemplating the end of the lesson more. But those first parts have since made their way to the center of my focus. In fact, they have pretty much enveloped my emotions and thoughts this past week.
The truths Ezra touches on are majestic, but easy to take for granted and I've allowed them to become background gospel thoughts more often than not.
Christ's royal heritage as the Only Begotten is spoken of frequently, yet for me it has become a "given," so I don't meditate on it so much. But it is spoken of often for a reason (we'll get to that).
The resurrection is a guaranteed gift we don't have to do a thing for, so truthfully it doesn't get as much deserved pondering either.
While the Atonement is significant, talking about it is so second nature, it's been a while since it sank into the depths of my soul like it has the last few days.
And yet these basic truths are more tremendous than our words can frame and an important part of knowing Christ.
Thank you President Ezra Taft Benson for pointing the way! (Love this prophet.)
The first element of the lesson which struck me was a simple sentence which the lesson really doesn't emphasize much:
"I was reared in a home by faithful parents who earnestly believed in and testified of Christ, for which I am most grateful.”
Do my children know how I feel about Christ? When was the last time I purposely and conscientiously testified of Christ and re-affirmed my strongest understandings?
Our family will be having a sit-down either this Sunday or Monday and we're going to discuss what we know, what we believe and what we understand of Christ. Whether it's a spouse, children or other close friends ~ it's a conversation we all want to have at least occasionally.
The lesson!
Although Ezra names a list of vital truths to know about Jesus, he expounds on them in a different order so we'll follow his train of thought, rather than the order of the list.
He was able to accomplish His mission because He was the Son of God and He possessed the power of God.
"No mortal being had the power or capability to redeem all other mortals from their lost and fallen condition, nor could any other voluntarily forfeit his life and thereby bring to pass a universal resurrection for all other mortals."
"His unique heredity made Him heir to the honored title—The Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh. As the Son of God, He inherited powers and intelligence which no human ever had before or since. He was literally Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'"
President Benson also mentions Jesus was born in such a way to preserve His godhood. He had a mortal mother and an immortal Father.
For me, what really helped me understand just who was this Man is, and what are His credentials to be THE ONE born with such a mother and Father came from a mind-bending description quoted in an old retired New Testament manual:
"President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, “Astronomers now yield what they did not formerly yield, that there may have been many, and probably were, many worlds like ours. Some say there were in this galaxy perhaps from its beginning, one million worlds like unto this one."
“‘Worlds without number have I created,’ through ‘mine Only Begotten Son.’ I repeat, our Lord is not a novice, he is not an amateur; he has been over this course time and time and time again."
“And if you think of this galaxy of ours having within it from the beginning perhaps until now, one million worlds, and multiply that by the number of millions of galaxies, one hundred million galaxies [now documented to be billions], that surround us, you will then get some view of who this Man we worship is.” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Behold the Lamb of God, Deseret Book Company, 1962, pp. 16–17.)
Among the billions of creations, He created our very Earth with all its mountains, valleys, rivers, sunsets and creatures before He was born. On top of that, He was God of the Old Testament (Jehovah) with all the comings and goings and the makings of a God accomplished in Him already. It wasn't just anyone selected at random to have a mortal mother and an immortal Father in order to pull off what He did ~ it was HIM with an unimaginable résumé and stature already intact.
I just love His name from the Old Testament ~ I AM.
Possible Questions: How does learning about the Savior's origins help us worship and revere Christ? Does it inspire trust? What happens to our faith when we decide to accept and trust the Savior? (For me, it brings me great joy to know just who my Redeemer is.)
Jesus came to earth to do our Father's will.
Perhaps one of the most important examples Jesus set before us is His singular purpose for being here. He came to teach, suffer, lead, endure, love, atone, resurrect and everything else because our Father wanted Him to.
The question becomes....how much could our own lives emulate this?
"Even though He was God’s Son sent to earth, the divine plan of the Father required that Jesus be subjected to all the difficulties and tribulations of mortality. Thus He became subject to “temptations, … hunger, thirst, and fatigue.”
Christ, who had the power to be born in any circumstance of wealth, privilege, or status chose to appear among the most humblest. He was born in an animal stall and slept in a feeding trough. Today, we use romantic words like manger and stable to soften it up, but the fact is, it was anything but romantic. Especially among all the smells of what animals do.
Now that's a STATEMENT. It is the epitome of irony for the Creator of the Universe to choose such lowly trappings for His mortal life. There's a message there. Perhaps it's not about having the big, beautiful Martha Stewart house? (I've had one of those - on the modest side - for the last seven years so I get to ponder this honestly.)
In fact, President Benson makes a bold comment later in the lesson, one which has the capacity to bring great happiness, clarity, direction and well-being to our lives. But it's hard even for dedicated and wonderful Saints to hear and face straight on.
"That [person] is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. [Christ made this very point quite clear through the example of His own life.] The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life."
The majority of people I know, including my own household spend a fair amount of time chasing worldly success like wealth, education, social status, etc. So no judgments here, just some hard-earned introspection of how much I'm gong to look back and regret not spending a greater portion of time on lasting endeavors.
We really won't be taking our bank accounts, beauty contest trophies, certificates of achievement, FB friend lists and houses with us. No wonder Christ made sure His life had nothing to do with those things. I heard it said somewhere, "you were born naked and will go out of this world the same way." The only thing we take with us is the essence and condition of our souls.
President Benson's point? When we look at Christ and get to know Christ, how much of His life and His priorities are reflected in ours?
Boy, that is the question of the day isn't it?
Jesus also knew rejection, persecution, accusations, ridicule, grief, disappointment, temptation, abandonment, irony and injustice.
But all such mortal challenges lead somewhere significant.
"To qualify as the Redeemer of all our Father’s children, Jesus had to be perfectly obedient to all the laws of God. Because He subjected Himself to the will of the Father, He grew “from grace to grace, until he received a fulness” of the Father’s power. Thus He had “all power, both in heaven and on earth.”
Our "will" is of divine origin which Jesus spoke of over and over and modeled what to do with our wills. I love this description from Neal A Maxwell and then one from Lorenzo Snow:
“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him” (Ensign, Aug. 2000).
Neal A Maxwell artfully sums up the essence of will. The beautiful result of submitting our will like Christ - is the empowered, confident soul it produces in each of us who understands this principle and then applies it.
Lorenzo Snow adds:
“We should bring our wills into subjection to the will of the Father, and feel to say, what is the will of our Father, whom we are here in the world to serve? Then every act that we perform will be a success.” (Lorenzo Snow Lesson 11)
Possible Questions: How does worldly success often claim more notice and praise than success in Christ-like living? Would contemplating the Father's will in "each act that we perform" make a difference in how your day is spent? Or how you interact with others?
He came with a foreknowledge that He would bear the burden of the sins of us all. He knew he would be lifted up on the cross.
President Benson quotes a rather poignant verse from Isaiah:
¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [In other words, He appeared without favor and quite insignificant to us, relatively few people would recognize His true stature.]
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Jesus was an often-dismissed person with feelings and pain. There's a similar message there as well. The notice and acclaim of the world is not the pinnacle of being in God's world. The "meek and lowly shall inherit the earth." It will probably surprise quite a few of us just who ends up with the larger stature, the brighter countenance and higher levels of nobility and greatness on the other side of the veil.
Ezra Taft Benson frames the Atonement for us:
"That holy, unselfish act of voluntarily taking on Himself the sins of all other men is the Atonement. How One could bear the sins for all is beyond the comprehension of mortal man. But this I know: He did take on Himself the sins of all and did so out of His infinite love for each of us. He has said: “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; … which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.” (D&C 19:16, 18.)
"In spite of that excruciating ordeal, He took the cup and drank. He suffered the pains of all men so we would not have to suffer. He endured the humiliation and insults of His persecutors without complaint or retaliation. He bore the flogging and then the ignominy of the brutal execution—the cross."
This gives one pause doesn't it?
When I was really young, my grandfather used to fascinate my brother and I with a rock polisher he made from a coffee can attached to a motor. We would put pretty rocks in and they would came out beautiful, shiny and polished. They became our important treasures.
Inspired words have a way of tumbling around in our inner most places of understanding, and working their magic on us. I suppose that's why we're supposed to study regularly...so that process can have a chance to take place.
Ezra said something about the Atonement in lesson 5 which has tumbled my heart and soul around inside of me ever since.
"Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore."
The deep realization that I, Shawnie, have put many stripes on the Man's back over the years, hit me like it has at no other time. I've repented, been sorry and reformed myself ~ but I don't think I've ever stopped to contemplate how it actually made Jesus FEEL. Even though He was capable of atoning for us, and offered it ~ He is a person with feelings and He hurt. Isaiah used the words "wounded, bruised, chastised, and stripes" (marks left from whipping). I personally gave Him pain and contributed stripes to His back.
Have I ever directly said sorry for hurting Him? When have I ever said a purposeful thank you in recognition of how much my fails, follies, and liberties must have agonized and stressed Him?
If you have any tears right now, welcome to my world. I can send my tears His way through prayer, but I achingly want that moment to face Him and say so sorry and thank you so much all in the same breath.
Sometimes when we're counseled to apply the Atonement in our lives, we're not fully counseled just how one accomplishes this task successfully. Fortunately, the Only Begotten Son established the Sacrament ordinance to walk us through those steps. He literally puts the Atonement in our laps every week.
Elder John H. Groberg made a compelling observation about Christ's last moments of suffering on on the cross:
"I love the Savior. I feel that as he hung upon the cross and looked out over the dark scene, he saw more than mocking soldiers and cruel taunters. He saw more than crying women and fearful friends. He remembered and saw even more than women at wells or crowds on hills or throngs by seashores. He saw more, much more. He, who knows all and has all power, saw through the stream of time. His huge, magnanimous, loving soul encompassed all eternity and took in all people and all times and all sins and all forgiveness and all everything. Yes, he saw down to you and to me and provided us an all-encompassing opportunity to escape the terrible consequences of death and sin." (General Conference April 1989)
We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
This short video perfectly sums this up so far: Favorite Christ Video (2 ½ minutes)
Possible Class Discussion: Now would be a perfect time to express how you personally feel about the Savior and why? Invite the other sisters to do the same. It enlarges our souls to share testimonies of the Savior with each other.
He was born to be the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
Looking up "redeem" in the dictionary turned up these three definitions:
redeem : to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable
: to exchange (something, such as a coupon or lottery ticket) for money, an award, etc.
: to buy back (something, such as a stock or bond)
Using these three definitions we could define Redeemer as : another name for Christ. He exchanged himself in our places and took our stripes, in order to buy back our eternal lives and to make a terrible outcome turn into a much better, glorious one.
In the lesson manual, President Benson specifically uses "Redeemer" when referencing the resurrection. He also talks about resurrection as one of the greatest events in human history:
"The greatest events of history are those that affect the greatest number of people for the longest periods. By this standard, no event could be more important to individuals or nations than the resurrection of the Master."
"The literal resurrection of every soul who has lived and died on earth is a certainty, and surely one should make careful preparation for this event. A glorious resurrection should be the goal of every man and woman, for resurrection will be a reality."
By a means I don't entirely comprehend, Jesus made the resurrection happen. What do we know? Only a perfect being with god-like stature could reunite his own spirit with his body and give it eternal life. Once He opened this portal, others could all be resurrected as well. Somehow He bought us back.
Resurrection is pure gift and truly a remarkable concept. When you and I stop to explore the idea of resurrection, it manifests itself as one of those magnificent promises we have complete good fortune in. It's not owed to us, it's an opportunity we shouted for joy over - once upon a time.
Perhaps someday there will be an abundant amount of soul-felt thanks for this as well.
Possible Class Discussion: Why is the resurrection comforting and strengthening? What would happen to the meaning of this life if there were no resurrection? Would you live your life differently?
He was willing to accomplish His mission because He loves us.
President Benson asks pertinent questions:
"Why is it expedient that we center our confidence, our hope, and our trust in one solitary figure? Why is faith in Him so necessary to peace of mind in this life and hope in the world to come?"
"Our answers to these questions determine whether we face the future with courage, hope, and optimism or with apprehension, anxiety, and pessimism."
Nothing helps having faith in Him along, than knowing how much He loves you already.
Let's change the last word in the sub-title above to "me."
"He was willing to accomplish His mission because He loves me."
Sometimes it's hard to picture the Savior being so keenly interested in specifically just you...directly. We wonder how He could possibly distinguish us or take too much notice of us from among a sea of souls. And given our mortal natures, we don't always naturally feel so close to Heaven either.
Nonetheless the Savior is very personable, which He reveals through His invitations made directly to you:
62 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (D&C 88:62-23)
And a well-known one:
28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Here's another powerful one:
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
There's more!
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne (whoa, right?) even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
This next one is mind-bending...I mean made equal? With Him? That's pretty personalized esteem right there:
107 And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him. (D&C 88:107)
He extends more than salvation, and exaltation. Jesus personally extends the invitation to become His joint-heir (Romans 8:17). To live with Him and dwell with Him for billions of eons and beyond.
So a lot of love and esteem there. What is Christ's motivation? To do His Father's will and because He wants to give you just what He has. All of it.
Why is comprehending this love so important?
Most Saints understand the Atonement, the Garden of Gethsemane, the resurrection and Christ's sacrifice for us. It is the offer of an everyday Christ that gets under-utilized or perhaps never learned. He will indeed become one with us every single day, as we strive to be near Him. It is He who enlightens our minds, our understanding and sends ideas and revelation our way (through the Spirit - D&C 88:6-13).
His companionship is warm and uplifting, endeared and faithful. As we strive to bring the Spirit into our lives, as we open up our hearts to the possibilities of His influence and presence, we will enrich and deepen the quality of our spiritual experiences and our lives.
President Benson says it so wonderfully:
Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him. As God, He has infinite power, intelligence, and love. There is no human problem beyond His capacity to solve. Because He descended below all things (see D&C 122:8), He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties.
Mortality is hard. It is SO hard! But we are not left without rich resources to draw on, with the Savior being our greatest asset. Understanding who Jesus is, what He purposes for us and what He has done already ~ helps us to better know Him and take advantage of all He offers us.
Possible Class Discussion: What are some of the ways you have felt your Savior's love? How could you help someone else feel His love? We are counseled to develop a personal relationship with the Savior ~ what are some ways we can do this?
Possible Hymns:
God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son #187 (Perfect hymn! Verses 1-4)
I Stand All Amazed #193
I Know That My Redeemer Lives #136 (Very sweet)
Possible Lesson Handouts:
Cute & Quick Object Lesson
Fun Treat
Share Lesson Quotes:
Video: Favorite Christ Video
Nine Tips For Memorable Teaching