FHE Aug 25, 2008

I volunteered to do the lesson for this week not knowing what I should say. Yesterday our hometeacher came over and read this spiritual thought that had been given in Ward Council that morning.

Men and women who turn their lives over to
God will find out that He can make a lot more
out of their lives than we can. He will

Deepen their joys,
Expand their vision,
Quicken their minds,
Lift their spirits,
Multiply their blessings,
Increase their opportunities,
Comfort their souls,
Raise up friends,
And pour out peace.

Whoever will lose his life to God will find
He has eternal life.

-President Ezra Taft Benson

I decided to find where the message had come from and found this article from 1975 when he was president of the Quorum of the 12. I had my lesson.

I recommend that you all read it. There is a lot in there and you could go many different directions with it. I'm sure you could create several different lessons from just this one article.

First he talked about the gifts Christ has given us:

1)He not only died for us - He lived for us and gave us the perfect example.

2)He gave us a prophet. We need to listen to the prophet and follow his counsel, especially the prophet who is guiding the church today.

3)He gave us the church. "Through it we receive baptism, priesthood, celestial marriage, and other sealing powers. It is the organized means that God is using to establish and expand his work. We must work with it and in it, build it up, and move it forward." He then goes on to explain that the Lord uses mortal men to do his work and sometimes they do things that are unwise.

4)Scripture - especially the Book of Mormon. It is the most correct book on earth and it was written for us. He said: "If we really did our homework and approached the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we could expose the errors and find the truths to combat many of the current false theories and philosophies of men, including socialism, humanism, organic evolution, and others."

5) The Constitution. He gave this quote from Joseph Smith that I've heard paraphrased but hardly ever quoted : “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.” He said that we need to look to the founding father's who wrote the constitution. He also referred to this book by Clarence Carson entitled The American Tradition.

After reminding us of all that Christ has done for us he asks what we can do in return. That's where the quote at the top comes in. He talks about sacrifice but like President Brigham Young said, “I have heard a great many tell about what they have suffered for Christ’s sake. I am happy to say I never had occasion to. I have enjoyed a great deal, but so far as suffering goes, I have compared it to a man wearing an old, worn-out, tattered, and dirty coat, and somebody comes along and gives him one that is new, whole, and beautiful... When I think of what I’ve suffered for the gospel’s sake—I have thrown away an old coat and have put on a new one.”

Some people say that going to the temple is a sacrifice. I know it's a service but I think of it more as a blessing. Service in any way is a blessing for the server as much as for the served. Here is a final quote that explains why: "Try as you may, you cannot put the Lord in your debt, for every time you try to do his will, he simply pours out more blessings upon you. Sometimes the blessings may seem to you to be a little slow in coming—perhaps this tests your faith—but come they will and abundantly. And it has been said, cast your bread upon the waters and after a while it comes back toasted and buttered."

Take the time to read the article. There is so much in there. I love you all and I'm so glad that you are mine.

Love always,

MOM