Report From Today's Study Group

Today we were so sorry Stacy was sick and not able to teach us, but we carried on and seven of us had a very nice hour together. We talked about our impressions of Stake Conference, about personal revelation, and shared some testimonies and experiences. Sisters shared their struggles and got support from the others. The Spirit was there, and it was an honor to have these sisters in my home to talk about the gospel. A few favorites from Stake Conference:   "You can never predict or prescribe the answers to your prayers or the way they will come." -- Jan Sudweeks   "You say Mormons Aren't Christians?? Those are fightin' words!" -- President Crickmore   Marlene, quoting Julie Beck, shared how she feels "bathed in help" all the time even when she has challenges. Susan feels peace; even when she doesn't know in what way things will work out, she knows that God is in charge and knows her and cares for her. I (Mindy) shared the analogy that as long as we are holding the Savior's hand, even if we are hanging off the side of a cliff (and the people we care for are hanging onto our ankles!), we won't fall.   Stacy (and other sisters), we missed you and hope you will be with us next week!

"An Educated Conscience," by Stephen R. Covey

This is the talk on the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost that Mindy mentioned during the June 7 class. This talk was REMARKABLE, unusual, creative, and really mind-expanding.

Click on this link and click on the button marked "download" to download the mp3 if you want to put it on your iPod. http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=948

Keystone and Capstone

"The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ. The Doctrine and Covenants brings men to Christ’s kingdom, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1:30). I know that.

"The Book of Mormon is the “keystone” of our religion, and the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter-day revelation. The Lord has placed His stamp of approval on both the keystone and the capstone." --President Ezra Taft Benson

Here is a link to the entire article:

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=d65667700817b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Charts: Names of Christ in Book of Mormon

Click on this link, then go to charts 46 and 47 to see the charts that Stacy used on June 7, 2010.

http://byustudies.byu.edu/januarybomcharts/browse.html

This web site is an amazing resource! They have charted everything you can possibly think of in the Book of Mormon!

Scripture on "Eternal Matter"

This is the specific scripture that Stacy was looking for that we couldn't find during class:

D&C 93:33, "For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

And to continue, D&C 93:34-38, "And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple. The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God."

Stephen Covey Quote and Diagrams from RS Lesson, June 6, 2010

From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, page 319:

A Personal Note

As I conclude this book, I would like to share my own personal conviction concerning what I believe to be the source of correct principles. I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that God, the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them, and also the source of our conscience. I believe that to the degree people live by this inspired conscience, they will grow to fulfill their natures; to the degree that they do not, they will not rise above the animal plane.

I believe that there are parts to human nature that cannot be reached either by legislation or education, but require the power of God to deal with. I believe that as human beings, we cannot perfect ourselves. To the degree to which we align ourselves with correct principles, divine endowments will be released within our nature in enabling us to fulfill the measure of our creation. In the words of Teilhard de Chardin, "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

I personally struggle with much of what I have shared in this book. But the struggle is worthwhile and fulfilling. It gives meaning to my life and enables me to love, to serve, and to try again.

Again, T. S. Eliot expresses so beautifully my own personal discovery and conviction: "We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time."

Handouts for RS Lesson June 6, 2010

The brochure that Stacy based today's lesson on, "That They May Always Have His Spirit to be With Them: A Guide to Sustaining Spiritual Growth." can be found if you click here.
There are seven habits: Three daily, two weekly, and two monthly.

DAILY:
1. Live Clean.
2. Pray Always.
3. Feast Upon the Words of Christ.

WEEKLY:
4. Keep the Sabbath.
5. Family Home Evening.

MONTHLY:
6. Tithes and Offerings.
7. Attend the Temple.


Another handout included this quote from Elder Parley P. Pratt on the Effects of the Holy Ghost:

"[His influence] quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."