Dear Sisters,
THIS WEEK:
Our recent reading assignment covered the latter half of Jacob, all of Enos, Jarom, Omni, Mormon and the beginnings of Mosiah. We've covered a lot of ground and the soil was very rich. In these chapters I saw a recurring theme of the power of teaching and the need to be teachable.
In Jacob we learn that Christ will use His chosen people to fulfill His purposes. To demonstrate this principle, we are given the allegory of the tame and the wild olive trees, which informs us that we must be teachable and allow Christ to "graft" and "prune" us into His people. Our willingness to submit to His will is a vital part of taking on His name and becoming a member of the house of Israel.
In Enos, we read that while he was taught in the "language and also the nurture and admonition of the Lord", he was burdened with sin and sought forgiveness of the Lord. When he humbled himself, he received not only a remission of his sins, but greater knowledge of the Lord's plan for him. Enos then went forth to teach the principles of faith and repentance.
Moving forward to the readings in early Mosiah, we learn how the wise and beloved King Benjamin conducted himself in his personal life with his children. He "caused that they should be taught in the language of their fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord." This is a formula that we can apply to our lives today. We need to become women of understanding, striving to know all we can about the gospel and it's history. We can also be like King Benjamin and become teachers and facilitators of understanding in our families, wards and any of the many people that come into our lives. As teachers, we can strive to first live as examples of what we teach, as King Benjamin clearly did. King Benjamin ultimately established peace in the land of Zarahemla. This is no small feat, given the history of violent warfare and corruption of power contained in the scriptures. He is an shining example of the of the power of righteous influence.
Love,
Marilyn Cope
Relief Society President, Woodland Park Ward
Day 29 – Catch Up or Extra Study (10.24.15)
Use your reading chart to find
the chapters you still need to read to be caught up through: Mosiah 8
or
If you’re up to date with your
reading, take time to study: Mosiah 3-4
Once
we’ve felt the Lord’s forgiveness, how do we retain the remission of our sins?
Day 30 (10.25.15)
Read: Mosiah 9-11
Mark:
Mosiah 9:17, 10:10-11
“The enabling and strengthening
aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways
that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity. I
testify and witness that the enabling power of the Savior’s Atonement is real.”
~ Elder David A. Bednar
In
what ways do we depend on our own strength? How can we more fully receive the
strength of the Lord?
Day 31 (10.26.15)
Read:
Mosiah 12-14
Mark: Mosiah 13:15
“When I was a little boy… I came
home from school one day, threw my books on the table, and took the name of the
Lord in vain in expressing my relief that school was out for the day. My mother
heard me. She was shocked. She took me by the hand and led me to the
bathroom…then proceeded to wash my mouth out with that terrible soap…and then
said, ‘Don’t let me ever hear such words from your lips again.’ The taste was
terrible. The reprimand was worse. I have never forgotten it, and I hope that I
have never used the Lord’s name in vain since that time.” ~ President Gordon B.
Hinckley
How
can we keep the Lord’s name sacred?
Day 32 (10.27.15)
Read:
Mosiah 15-17
Mark: Mosiah 17:11-12
“You don’t need to compromise
your standards to be accepted by good friends. The more obedient you are…the
more the Lord can help you overcome temptation. You can also help others
because they will feel your strength. Let them know about your standards by
consistently living them…No one intends to make serious mistakes. They come
when you compromise your standards to be more accepted by others. You be the
strong one. You be the leader. Choose good friends and resist peer pressure
together.”
~ Elder Richard G. Scott
Why
did King Noah not resist the pressure from the evil priests? What helps you to
resist peer pressure?
Day 33 (10.28.15)
Read:
Mosiah 18-20
Mark: 18:8-10
“We show by our behavior what we
believe. Surely we are standing as witnesses of God when we sustain his living
prophets, especially when we know what it means to sustain. We will abide by
the direction and counsel of the prophets. We indeed become witnesses when we
make this solemn covenant.” ~ Sister Janette Hales Beckham
What commitments are part of our
baptismal covenant? In what ways do you try to keep those commitments?
Day 34 (10.29.15)
Read:
Mosiah 21-23
Mark: Mosiah 23:21-22
“Life is full of difficulties,
some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending
supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect
instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the
heavenly virtue of patience is required.” ~ President Thomas S. Monson
When
is it most difficult for you to be patient? Why is patience important?
Day 35 (10.30.15)
Read:
Mosiah 24-25
Mark: Mosiah 24:14-15
“We should seek to be happy and
cheerful and not allow Satan to overcome us with discouragement, despair, or
depression.”
~ Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
“The Lord…loves us…, comforts and
strengthens us, and enables us to bear our afflictions with patience and
fortitude.”
~ Elder George Q. Cannon
How
can we submit more cheerfully to the will of the Lord?
Day 36 – Catch Up or
Extra Study (10.31.15)
Use your reading chart to find the
chapters you still need to read to be caught up through: Mosiah 25
or
If you’re up to date with your
reading, take time to study: Mosiah
14-15
Abinadi
quoted Isaiah to testify of the Savior. What did Isaiah teach about Christ?
What can you learn about the Savior from Abinadi’s testimony?
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