Church Leadership and Selfless Service - Don't Blow It!

Today the one and only beautiful Kate Livingstone took us all through a lovely spiritual journey together as we discussed topics stemming from chaper 18: Church Leadership and Selfless Service.

Kate brought a lovely green bowl full of Blow Pops for us to remind her of her high school tennis coach's phrase, "don't blow it!" The phrase was meant to remind them not to let their head get in the way of their performance when they had well prepared. 

The story in the manual that we talked about described President Snow's (before he was ordained a prophet) observations of a presiding Elder in a branch in London (similar to a branch president today). The leader externally appeared to be very righteous externally. He worked hard to achieve all that a leader should. None the less things were going wrong in the branch. President Snow prayed for the gift of discernment. President Snow said about this:

"My prayer was answered; I found the brother possessed of a kind of half-hidden, concealed spirit of self-exaltation which was directing him in many of his movements. He would send out a brother to fill an appointment but had a suppressed wish to have the honor of it himself; if the appointment was not attended to, he would chasten the delinquent, not because the work of the Lord was in any degree frustrated or that the brother lost a blessing, but because [he] himself was so despised in being disobeyed. In [a] case where a number were baptized by a brother, his heart rejoiced not so much because the persons were brought into the covenant but because it was done under his superintendency, secretly wishing no person under his charge to obtain much honor unless his own name were brought into connection.”

President Snow actually wrote a letter to branches throughout the region describing this leader's secret motives and feelings. 

The manual states:
Elder Snow did not write this letter to condemn the local leader. His purpose in writing was to help other leaders—that the prideful spirit he described “may be seen, known, and avoided” among them. He warned that many people “who sincerely believe themselves entirely devoid of this spirit of exaltation, would on close examination of their motives which inspire them in their conduct, discover to their surprise that this spirit was urging them forward to perform many of their movements.”

President Snow pointed out that this spirit of "self exaltation" is an evil influence and will harm ourselves and others if we do not rid ourselves of it. 

I think that if we are to find this spirit in ourselves it will require great humility. Do not be discouraged if you have prideful thoughts and self motivated desires. We all have weaknesses that we are designed to over come!

See Overcomer music video below  ->  

Here is a summary of some of our sisters' comments throughout the lesson:

• Don't blow it! Aka trust yourself and don't get in the way of what you can do. 
• The spirit of self exaltation ruins the self. 
• There is always a reason why you are called to your calling even if you feel under qualified. 
• The Lord will help you to see why your calling was given to you to help you and others.
• Don't get in the way of magnifying your calling by being arrogant or doubtful. 
• One of the best ways to magnify ourselves is to magnify Christ and his attributes. 
• Lorenzo snow invites us to be humble in our callings.

How to Strengthen Your Family - part 2

In addition to last weeks post, I want to add a new resource I discovered about strengthening families.

It's called Gospel Solutions for Families. These are audio discussions on how to improve the quality of our marriages and how to successfully raise children. Gospel Solutions are based on the ideals and teachings that Jesus Christ taught during His lifetime such as love, forgiveness, respect and work. 

 I think the one called "Keeping your Sanity in a Home of Little Ones" sounds fun! I'm planning on listening to one of these as I'm doing dishes or some other chore this week.

If you listen in this week, or have in the past, please post a comment below!

LINK: Gospel Solutions for Families

❤ 3 Simple Ways to Become a Happier Family ❤

Today we had a combined Relief Society and Priesthood.  We got these nice little booklets about improving the quality of happiness in our families.

I tried to find copies online for those who missed church, but there weren't any on the church website- probably because they are so old.... I couldn't help but laugh at the 90's family picture; the mom had these fantasitc ugly high waist, poofy jeans on.

The content however, is stuff that never goes out of date. The three ways to increase family happiness in the booklet are:

1. Making Time For Each Other
2. Improving Communication
3. Emphasizing Values

Our lovely bishopric members each talked about one of these points.

1. Making Time For Each Other

Brother Tyler Crouch pointed out how most of us consider ourselves to be very busy and not have much (if any) free time. One day he did an experiment and wrote what he was doing down every 15 minutes (don't ask me how he had the discipline to do that!). At the end of the day he subtracted all the time he spent at school and work from the total time. He was surprised at the amount of time he spent not doing those things that makes him so very busy. It was said that we should plan and prioritize what little free time we do have. He pointed out that many people could turn off the TV to spend time together. There was a little bit dated statistic quoted that the average American family spends 3 hours a day staring at the television...I venture to say that the average american spends this much time attached to some sort of technological device - mobile phone, conputer, etc.

What if we a spent a litte less time on FB, instagram, Pintrest, youtube, hulu, texting etc and a little more time interacting with our loved ones? We would be investing in what matters most and building the foundation of stronger relationships!

2. Improving Communication
Brother Owen Hancock reviewed some of the principles in the booklet and asked us some probing questions. From the manual he pointed out that we should listen not only to our loved ones' words, but to their feelings. Now what does that mean? If we are not actively listening and trying to understand how someone feels about what they are saying, we may be missing out on a lot and miss the point altogether. The booklet suggests watching nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture.  It was also noted in class that it is effective to look someone in the eyes while they are speaking, and especially not do something else while they are speaking. I'm sure we all talk and do other things at the same time, and that is not always a bad thing, like for example if you are cooking together, but choosing the right time to stop and watch someone as they tell you something is important, and will show the one you love your attention and care.

3. Emphasizing Values
Bishop Kim talked about how living and teaching values to children strengthens families. It was pointed out that the best way to teach values is by example! He said that when their kids were still all at home around Christmas they always chose a family in the ward and anonymously dropped off poems and gifts or treats for 11 days and on the 12th sang a carol when the family opened the door. He said all the kids got into it and helped make the treats and pick out the gifts. As they served together, the kids felt the good feelings of service and it bonded their family together each year. Children, like all of us, learn when doing and participating, not just hearing.

Safely Anchored in Christ, our Rock

Hi all!

 If you don't have much time this week to read, just read the bold parts and watch the Mormon message too if you have a few minutes to spare and you will still glean a lot from our lesson on Sunday. 

Cassidy Tuttle gave the lesson. She talked about what it means to be anchored in Christ and shared an optimistic view of life and the gospel. I really appreciated it. I asked her to share some of the main points of the lesson and her thoughts about it:

"A strong testimony of Jesus Christ is truly the best way to maintain a constant source of happiness in our lives. I am the type of person that likes to have a plan and know what is going to happen in my life. When things are uncertain I tend to feel very stressed and worried, often causing me to be physically sick. About 2 years ago I decided to study more about Christ and the power of prayer as a means of providing peace and comfort in my life. I also focused on positive thinking and tried to find things about life that were good, despite the trials I was facing. I found that the more I relied on the Lord and trusted in his plan for me the less stress and worry I felt. Knowing that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have a plan for my life and that they know what is best for me has provided so much happiness and peace in my life. I'm not perfect in trusting their plan, but the more I rely on them and pray for help and guidance with the obstacles I'm facing the more I realize how much joy I can have despite hardships. 

There is a quote by Richard G. Scott that perfectly describes this concept. It is from a talk called "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness". He said, "True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ." 

Another quote from this same talk that really hit home for me was this: "The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. Your progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether you welcome the experience or not. Trust in the Lord. Ask to be led by the Spirit to know His will. Be willing to accept it. You will then qualify for the greatest happiness and the heights of attainment from this mortal experience."

As I strive to center my life in Christ, through scripture study, prayer, obedience and repentance, I know that he will help me to achieve great things. He will be a source of strength and comfort throughout my life. Happiness truly come from following the example of Jesus Christ and centering our lives around him and his teachings." - Thanks Cassidy for the comments!!!

One comment I found insightful was about how an actual anchor works. In a storm you throw it over the edge of the boat and the anchor drags through the mud and junk until it hits a rock and latches on to it. The sister pointed out how Christ is the rock we need to set our anchor to set on. We may feel like we are being drug through the mud and gunk of life for a time, but if we focus on Christ, our anchor will surely find Him and we will find security and peace in 

the storms of life!

I remember not too long ago my scripture study was getting really kind of drab. I wasn't getting into it. I was reading one verse a day. I'm not bashing on one verse a day - believe me! It's just that and I wasn't doing as well spiritually as when I read more like several verses or a chapter a day. It's hard for me to get into it if I don't read more verses than one. I am doing a better now. One thing I like doing is listening to chapters from the Book of Mormon while I'm getting ready for the day. Hey why not listen when you're doing your hair or makeup?! Anyhoo, it is more meaningful when I am listening to learn about a topic. IGoing along with this lesson, I will be listening to or reading verses about Christ as our rock. Here are links to gospel study aids with scriptures listed about Christ as our ROCK. 

Guide to the  Scriptures

Topical Guide

Now if you want a detailed out line of the lesson you will find it here:

Anchored in Christ

• Talks

"The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness"

•  RICHARD G. SCOTT

• True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, 

and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you 

center your life in Jesus Christ.  

*** = Cool Mormon Message on Anchoring in Christ - Rock Climbing Analogy!

• Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ***ascent in the journey of 

life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, 

there is the assurance that, in the Lord’s time, solutions will come, 

peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours.

• The Redeemer will safely lead you over the most difficult obstacles of 

life. His laws are absolutely ***secure anchors of protection that dispel fear 

and assure success in an otherwise dangerous world. Such a life will 

certainly provide you peace and happiness.

• Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not 

intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard 

some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very 

important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should 

not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. 

• Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. 

• The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. Your 

progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you 

through every growth experience you encounter, whether you welcome 

the experience or not. Trust in the Lord. Ask to be led by the Spirit 

to know His will. Be willing to accept it. You will then qualify for the 

greatest happiness and the ***heights of attainment from this mortal 

experience.

"A Sure Foundation"

•  BISHOP DEAN M. DAVIES

• Faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring 

to the end are part of the “blueprints” of life. They help to form the 

appropriate building blocks that will anchor our lives to the Atonement 

of Christ. These shape and frame the supporting structure of a person’s 

life.

• Prayer is one of the most basic and important foundational building 

blocks of our faith and character. Through prayer we are able to express 

our gratitude, love, and devotion to God. Through prayer we can submit 

our will to His and in return receive the strength to conform our lives to 

His teachings. Prayer is the avenue we can follow to seek His influence 

in our lives, even revelation.

• Sharing our thoughts, feelings, and desires with God through sincere 

and heartfelt prayer should become to each of us as important and 

natural as breathing and eating.

o Stand in Holy Places

•  THOMAS S. MONSON

• …There is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace 

to our souls than the Spirit which can come to us as we follow the Savior 

and keep the commandments.

• …Communication with our Father in Heaven—including our prayers to 

Him and His inspiration to us—is necessary in order for us to weather 

the storms and trials of life. The Lord invites us, “Draw near unto me 

and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.” 

As we do so, we will feel His Spirit in our lives, providing us the desire 

and the courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness—to “stand … 

in holy places, and be not moved.”

o The Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ

•  ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSON

• Love for family and friends, great as it may be, is much more profound 

when anchored in the love of Jesus Christ. Parental love for children 

has more meaning here and hereafter because of Him. All loving 

relationships are elevated in Him. Love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus 

Christ provides the illumination, inspiration, and motivation to love 

others in a loftier way.

o Two Principles for Any Economy

• DIETER F. UCHTDORF

• Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway 

to possibility.

• The Lord doesn’t expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn’t 

(nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly 

Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to 

our full capacity, however great or small that may be.

o By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled

• ELDER MARCUS B. NASH

• Brothers and sisters, the Lord will, according to our faith, fulfill His 

promises and work with us to overcome every challenge… Because He is 

a “God of miracles” and “changeth not,” He will … bless each of us with 

hope, protection, and power according to our faith in Him. Steadfast 

faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will … anchor you and your loved ones to 

“the rock of our Redeemer” and His matchless power to save.

• …Nurture a particle of faith and permit the hope it produces to be 

• …Fear distracts from and undermines faith in the Savior… the Lord 

an anchor to your soul—and to your reason. That is why we are 

commanded to “seek learning … by study and also by faith.”

invites us to “look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”

• Scriptures

o Mosiah 2:41 

o Ether 12:4 

o 3 Nephi 18:20

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy 

state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are 

blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to 

the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God 

in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things 

are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, 

yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh 

an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, 

always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing 

that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."

• Principles that help us develop an anchor in Christ

• Scripture Study and attending church meetings

• Prayer

• Faith and hope

• Love and Charity

• Helps us learn more about Christ

• It’s hard to trust in someone you don’t know

• This helps us establish a relationship with Christ

• We can tell him our worries and fears

•  The spirit will comfort and bring peace

•Trust and hope in his plan

•Rely on him in times of trial

•Brings joy and happiness through serving others