Woman

Boy do I love teaching from the Book of John! I know I keep saying this as I progress through teaching the standard works, but this, THIS is my new favorite book! Today we studied John 2, the first recorded miracle and the first cleansing of the temple. We had great discussion. At the wedding Jesus said, speaking to his Mom, "Woman, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? That will I do." We are to be like the Savior, to walk and talk like him......so I challenged the kids to go home and say these same words to their mothers and see what reaction they got. Boy the kids laughed......"If I call my Mom, "Woman" she's not going to like that so much!" So I told them to say the words Jesus spoke, but in our modern language which they agreed would be, "Mom, what can I do for you? I'll do it!" I'm anxious to hear what they report back about her reaction AND what she has them do! When Jesus was dying in agony on the cross, He looked down upon His weeping mother and asked John (the author) to take care of her by saying, "Woman, behold thy son!" In this moment, can you think of Him saying anything but a tender, loving, and respectful term? There's no question that calling her "woman" was full of respect and honor. Woman. I have been pondering that word. Such a beautiful and honorable word. Here are two of my favorite quotes about being a woman: "Women play an integral part (sometimes at the risk of their own lives) in God’s work and glory “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson I love feeling that I play such an integral role in Heavenly Father's work and glory! His work and glory would fail if women stopped playing this part! “The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.” Former YW General President, Margaret D. Nadauld I remember when she said that quote and it just resonated with me. I felt something deep inside of me bearing testimony of the importance of being a woman.....that kind of woman......and the influence I could have on the world. In my world, anyway. And that I was doing ok by not trying to follow the world into being tough and overly bold as sometimes the world makes me feel I should be. It's ok, and even wonderful to be tender and kind! I would be honored to have the Savior call me "Woman". Or Claire. If Claire says to me after school, "Woman, what wilt thou have me to do for thee?" I will happily put her to work!

Excerpt from an email to Elder Bates

We had great seminary lessons this week on Elijah and Elisha.  I can't believe how many miracles are contained in those few short chapters on those two.  So many miracles!! 

One of the days, we got talking about Gay Marriage.  We agreed it comes down to one question:  Do you believe in God?  If yes, then do you believe he has a prophet on the earth today speaking for him?  If yes, then what does he say about it?  He says that marriage is between a man and a woman. 

If you answer no to the first questions, then study, pray, and find out if there is a God, and if he has a living prophet. 

The question is not, "Is gay marriage ok", but, "Is there a God?" 

I'm married to WHO????

Elder Poulson, in  April 1982 General Conference, tells a sad story about John and Gayle.

"John was a thoughtful, kind young man, affectionate, with a frank and open manner. He sincerely tried to obey the Lord’s commandments and found honest contentment in the joys of family life. Gayle, his wife, was young, attractive, high-spirited, but inclined toward more worldly interests and activities. The society in which they lived was, in general, one of affluence and materialism. People seemed preoccupied with temporal gain, social status, entertainment, and self-gratification. Religious leaders were concerned about the apparent breakdown in family life and moral standards.

In the early years of their marriage, John and Gayle were blessed with children, first a boy and then a girl; but Gayle seemed uninterested in her domestic responsibilities. She longed for glamour and excitement in her life and was frequently away from home at parties and entertainments, not always with her husband. In her vanity, Gayle encouraged and responded to the attentions of other men until eventually she was unfaithful to her marriage vows.

Throughout, John encouraged Gayle to appreciate the joys of family life and experience the rewards of observing the laws of God. He was patient and kind, but to no avail. Shortly after the birth of a third child, a son, Gayle deserted her husband and children and joined her worldly friends in a life of self-indulgence and immorality. John, thus rejected, was humiliated and brokenhearted.

Soon, however, the glamour and excitement that had attracted Gayle turned to ashes. Her so-called friends tired of her and abandoned her. Then each successive step was downward, her life becoming more and more degraded. Eventually she recognized her mistakes and realized what she had lost, but could see no way back. Certainly John could not possibly love her still. She felt completely unworthy of his love and undeserving of her home and family.

Then one day, passing through the streets, John recognized Gayle. Surely he would have been justified in turning away, but he didn’t. As he observed the effect of her recent life, all too evident, a feeling of compassion came over him—a desire to reach out to her. Learning that Gayle had incurred substantial debts, John repaid them and then took her home.

Soon John realized, at first with amazement, that he still loved Gayle. Out of his love for her and her willingness to change and begin anew, there grew in John’s heart a feeling of merciful forgiveness, a desire to help Gayle overcome her past and to accept her again fully as his wife."

Part way through this story, don't you just want to shake Gayle and say, "What are you thinking?  You've got a loving husband and children!  What does the world offer that is more alluring than that?" 

What  do you think about him taking her back and paying her debts?   

This story is basically the story of the Book of Hosea in the Old Testament.  Hosea married Gomer who was unfaithful to him.  They had 3 kids.  She left them for worldly pleasure-seeking.  But Hosea took her back.

Why is this story in the Bible?  Is it a lesson on overcoming infidelity?  It's in the Bible because it is a beautiful allegory about a faithful and loving husband.  The husband is Jesus Christ.  The wife is the Children of Israel.  Ah Ha!  Now this story makes more sense! 

How is the Savior like a husband and we like a wandering wife?  Jesus is the perfect provider and protector.  He continues to love us even when we sin and leave him.  The world tempts us.  It calls to us.  Surely something "out there" must be more exciting than how we see our life.  Jehovah had made a covenant (temple marriage) with the Children of Israel and they broke that covenant. The "wife" just couldn't stay away from false idols and immorality.   The Book of Hosea is actually a very true accounting of the Children of Israel and how the Lord was always willing to take them back.

Have you seen the video on lds.org called, "The Savior Wants to Forgive"?  It is powerful and reinforces how the Lord wants us back, like a husband who loves his wife.  He will never stop loving us.  He is the perfect husband.  How are we doing as a wife?

Fiery, Furry, Food

In seminary we refer to three of the story's in Daniel as Fiery, Furry, Food.  Food = Daniel & friends refusing to eat the King's food.  Fire = Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.  Furry = Daniel in the Lion's Den.

But there are other lessons from these story's than the ones we learned in Primary. 

FOOD:  Yes, Daniel and his friends taught us about living the Word of Wisdom.   After 10 days, "their countenances appeared fairer".  But did you realize they also were given "knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."  (Daniel 1:15,17)  That's some pretty mighty blessings!  Those blessings go well beyond just the physical!  Our creator knows what is best for our bodies and what's best for us mentally and spiritually too.

FIRE:  Yes, the Lord will bless us when we stand up for him when the heat is on.  But the fact that "the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed" is only part of the story. Although a mighty miracle, it's not the real lesson.  The real lesson is in Daniel 3:17, 18, when they tell the King, Our Lord, "he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king, BUT IF NOT....." 

The lesson is in the three words, "But if not."  They were going to be faithful and true whether or not the Lord saved them.  They didn't know if He would.  It didn't matter what the consequence would be.  They were going to do what was right anyway.  Physical death didn't matter as long as they didn't die spiritually.  What faith! 

"Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not.....
Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not......
He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not.....
Our God will deliver us from threats, accusations, and insecurity, but if not.......
He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not......

WE WILL TRUST THE LORD.  We will have faith that in His time, and in His way, we will be delivered and receive all that He has."    Elder Dennis E. Simmons, Ensign May 2004.

FURRY:  Yes, the lesson is that we can be kept safe when all around us is danger.  But aren't we today put in a "den of lions" when we have to stand by our beliefs about, say, marriage as defined by God? We may have consequences similar to lions surrounding us. Mocking us.  Pushing us around.  Looking like they are going to eat us alive!  But as Daniel was not devoured, we can withstand our lions, too.  And just as the King was watching Daniel, there are people watching us. After Daniel was removed from the lion's den unscathed, the King declared that Daniel's God "is the living God, and steadfast for ever. That every domino\ion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel."  Facing our "lions" will bring others to Christ.  "Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee."  (Daniel 6:16)

I love Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendago!  If you want to see a great artist's depiction of these 4, look in the May 2016 New Era.  Their examples's from @ 630 BC are still relevant today.  We can obey, trust, and face our lions.

Thomas S. Monson

So if you plan a party for Saturday that includes swimming, picnicking, and other out door activities, what do you do if you get a weather report that says hail, lightning, thunder and stormy weather all day?  You just cut it up and burn that darn weather report, and go ahead and have your party anyway!  Right?  Of course not.  How silly!  Burning the weather report won't make the weather change.  Well this is similar to how many people treat prophecy.  In Jeremiah 36, Jeremiah had a scribe write down all of his prophecies and read them to the king.  The king didn't like them.  So he cut them up and burned them.  Did that keep the prophecies from being fulfilled?  Of course not.  But people don't like to hear things that are inconvenient.  Maybe, just maybe if they don't REALLY hear it, then they won't have to feel guilty for not obeying.  Have you ever had someone give you advice that you really didn't want to take, but you knew it was good advice?  But you fought it.  You didn't want to change.  You didn't want to admit that they were right and you were wrong and you could be doing better.

Such is the life of a prophet.  He reports the things we need to do and we can choose to listen and obey, or ignore.  And because he's not asking us to do things like build an ark or look at a snake high on a stick, we think he's not asking us to do anything!  But that's not true.  What are some of the things Pres. Monson has asked us to do since becoming our Prophet?  Up until March 2016, he has asked us to do these things, taken right out of the Friend magazine:

1.  Follow Jesus's example and love everyone.
2.  Pay tithing and donate to the missionary fund.
3.  Stay away from bad* movies, TV, and other media. 
*One of my students asked if this meant bad acting in a movie......
4.  Put a picture of the temple in every bedroom.
5.  Study general conference talks.
6.  Visit the elderly and be a good neighbor.

And in April 2016 conference he asked us to build up a great and powerful faith so that we can have our most effective defense against the adversary.  What does he know that's coming that will take great and powerful faith to help us endure?  Have you done anything yet to build such faith? 

Elder M. Russell Ballard says, "When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through the words of the President of the Church, our response should be prompt!  There is safety, peace, prosperity, and happiness  in responding to prophetic counsel."

Gee whiz!  I want those things!!

The Children of Israel were slow to follow prophetic counsel.  I need to be PROMPT!

Here are just a sampling of some of President Monson's quotes:

I LOVE THIS MAN!
Pres. Monson, I will be prompt!

The Children of Israel were slow to follow the words of the prophet.  We need to be PROMPT.

Stocks

Stocks.  Does that make you think of money and investing?  Well, in this use of the word, it means punishment!  Putting a criminal "in the stocks."

Jeremiah, the prophet was put in the stocks.  Can you imagine if our prophets, or missionary's were put in stocks today?  Well here was Jeremiah.  Its 600 BC.   And did it keep him silent?  No!  He just kept on preaching.  He had a lot of information he had to get out there!  Much of it was doom and gloom about how the people were going to be taken captive into Babylon for 70 years!  But chapters 30 & 31 are the "nice" chapters, about how the Lord will rescue them from captivity.  Jeremiah gives them 3 pieces of advice for when they are in captivity.  Now if you were talking to your city, telling them they were going to all be in captivity for 70 years, what advice would you give them?  Would it be the same as Jeremiah's?

While in captivity:

1.  Build houses

2.  Plant gardens

3.  Get married and have children

(Jeremiah 29:5,6)

And then the most wonderful news!  Jeremiah 31:31!  The Lord promises that He will then make a NEW covenant with them! 

If I was to sum up the Old Testament in a succinct phrase, this would be it:

"When the Israelites kept their covenants, God blessed them in many ways, including giving them a promised land.  However, when they broke their covenants, the Lord took these blessings away, and the people became separated from their promised land."  

Old Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary, pg. 294

The message of the Old Testament is to be a covenant keeper.

Elder Russell M. Nelson says, "When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us.  His law is written in our hearts.  He is our God and we are His people.  Committed children of the covenant remain steadfast, even in the midst of adversity. 

The greatest compliment that can be earned here in this life is to be known as a Covenant Keeper.  The rewards for a covenant keeper will be realized both here and hereafter." 

Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 2011, pg. 88

The message for us today is to be a covenant keeper.

Things really haven't changed .....except we don't put prophets in stocks.

Pottery Wheel

I've always wanted to try spinning on a potter's wheel.  I've never done that.  It looks pretty cool....the feel of the clay, adding water, pushing the pedal to make it move.  But then sometimes the potter loses brief control and the clay gets out of shape and you have to start all over again!  It looks hard to make even a simple pot! 

In Jeremiah 18:1-6, Jeremiah visits the home of a Potter.  He watches as the potter has the experience I described above.... making a pot on a potter's wheel.  But it becomes marred, so he starts over again. 

So is the Lord able to do with us.  He works with us and molds us and if we become marred, he can start again to make us a beautiful and useful pot of clay.  What a beautiful message of hope!  We are in the hands of a masterful potter.  What will he make of you?

Isaiah 53

What fun I've had teaching Isaiah to the Freshmen this past month.  Yes, I really did say FUN!  It has helped that a few years back (before I had any inkling I would EVER be a seminary teacher) I decided to study Isaiah.  After all, we are COMMANDED to study Isaiah.  So it has really made a difference that I already have a strong testimony and love of this book of scripture.  I make the kids say, "I love Isaiah" every day.  They usually mumble it and roll their eyes, but I can tell you I have seen light bulbs in class.  Seriously.  Light bulbs above their heads.  As things have started to mesh and make sense and even be interesting. 

Today was my favorite chapter, Isaiah 53.  It's only 12 short verses.  If you read verses 3-5, which just so happens to be scripture mastery verses, and put in "I, me, my" instead of "we, us, our" you will read a very powerful message to yourself. 

Here are two quotes from today's lesson:

"There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first.   In a moment of weakness we may cry out, "No one know what it is like.  No one understands!"  No human being perhaps know, but the SON OF GOD knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens before we ever did."   Elder David A. Bednar

I gave them each a card today with this quote and they are supposed to carry it around with them and look at it throughout the day.    I told them how our Stake President said, "Jesus Christ knows what it feels like to be me."  I love that quote.

Here's the second one - this one is hard for me to read.

James E. Talmage:  "Jesus suffered and was crucified for men's transgressions.  But few details of the actual crucifixion are given us.  We know however that our Lord was nailed to the cross by spikes driven through his hands and feet, as was the Roman method, not bound with cords.  Death by crucifixion was the most lingering and most painful of all forms of execution.  The victim lived in ever increasing torture, generally for many hours, sometimes days.  The spikes so cruelly driven through sensitive nerves and quivering tendons.  The welcome relief of death came through exhaustion caused by intense and unremitting pain."

I am so thankful for my Savior.  I'm thankful that he bought me with the price of His blood.  And all I have to do is keep the commandments and I can share in his eternal glory.  (See vs. 12).  He kept the nail prints in his body so that he would remember US.  Not that we would pay honor to him.  He wants no honor or glory for himself.  He wants us to have the honor and glory of becoming all that He knows we are capable of.  Can you imagine if we felt this way towards everyone?  That we want them to reach their very highest and full potential?  Instead we feel jealous and we tear others down thinking it builds ourselves up; we feel bitterness when others succeed.  So opposite of our Savior.

If anyone is interested in further study into Isaiah, I have looked at many books, and my own best choice is "Isaiah Made Easier" by David J. Ridges.  He only uses quotes by Apostles and Prophets.  It is in an easy to read format. 

By the way, if you read Acts 8:26-39, you will read a wonderful little conversion story about a man who was reading in Isaiah 53.  As was that Ethiopian man, so am I converted by Isaiah 53!

A Book Review

Do you want to read a book full of love, adventure, visions, murder, intrigue, kindness, trickery, and amazing miracles?  Then I have the book for you!  It's called  The Book of Moses from the Pearl of Great Price. It is 8 chapters of non-stop action!   It is WONDERFUL and full of imagery that will not let you put it down!  It is my new favorite book of scripture.  There is SO MUCH doctrine in there!  I've been teaching from it this past month in Seminary!  From the creation of Earth, to Adam and Eve, to Cain and Abel, to Enoch, Methuselah, and Noah!  From the huge contrast as Lucifer and Jesus both present their plan, to this important verse:  "Nevertheless, you may choose for yourself". There is the verse about Satan holding a large chain and laughing while his followers rejoice, followed by several verses of God seeing his wicked children and weeping.  From the angel telling Adam and Eve that they must repent (one of the first things they were told to do after being sent out of the garden.....and we are still being told to do so all these many years later at October 2015 General Conference!) to Cain making a secret promise with Satan after his offering was not accepted by God.  Enoch being called and answering, "I'm but a lad!  I'm slow of speech! And besides all that, everybody HATES me!" to the Lord answering him that he must obey anyway!  And if he does, mountains will move for him and he will know what to say.  Well, we know how that story ends.....the whole city being translated!  (I think he obeyed!)  Like I said, you won't be able to put it down!  Thank you, Joseph Smith and Moses for collaborating on this exciting book!  And thank you to all those who lived it!  What a book!

A good Cleaning Method

I had a professional house cleaner tell me that she always uses this product when she cleans homes.  I decided to buy some at Target and give it a try.  It's a keeper!  I love it!  I love the good smell it leaves, and how easily it cleans anything off my counter, table, cupboards, sink, microwave, fridge inside and out, stovetop, etc.  The trick is, you don't use water.  Spray your countertop, then use a clean, dry cloth to wipe it down and everything slides off....sometimes you need a slight rub, but not much.  If you use it with a damp cloth, it still cleans, but not as good.  I recommend it with two thumbs up!