"Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer" - Ezra Taft Benson - Lesson 6
Doctrine:
No other single influence has had so great an impact on this earth as the life of Jesus the Christ. We cannot conceive of our lives without His teachings. Without Him we would be lost in a mirage of beliefs and worships born in fear and darkness where the sensual and materialistic hold sway. We are far short of the goal He set for us, but we must never lose sight of it, nor must we forget that our great climb toward the light, toward perfection, would not be possible except for His teaching, His life, His death, and His resurrection.
To have any measure of appreciation and gratitude for what [Jesus Christ] accomplished in our behalf, we must remember these vital truths:
He came with a foreknowledge that He would bear the burden of the sins of us all.
He knew he would be lifted up on the cross.
He was born to be the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
He was able to accomplish His mission because He was the Son of God and He possessed the power of God.
He was willing to accomplish His mission because He loves us.
No mortal being had the power or capability to redeem all other mortals from their lost and fallen condition, nor could any other voluntarily forfeit his life and thereby bring to pass a universal resurrection for all other mortals.
Only Jesus Christ was able and willing to accomplish such a redeeming act of love.
A most priceless blessing available to every member of the Church is a testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and His church. A testimony is one of the few possessions we may take with us when we leave this life.
To have a testimony of Jesus is to possess knowledge through the Holy Ghost of the divine mission of Jesus Christ.
A testimony of Jesus means that we accept the divine mission of Jesus Christ, embrace His gospel, and do His works. It also means we accept the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith and his successors and follow their counsel. As Jesus said, “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (D&C 1:38.)
“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. …
One of the purposes of this life is for us to be tested to see whether we “will do all things whatsoever the Lord” our God shall command us. (Abr. 3:25.) In short, we are to learn the will of the Lord and do it. We are to follow the model of Jesus Christ and be like Him.
We need more men and women of Christ who will always remember Him, who will keep His commandments which He has given them. The greatest yardstick of success is to see how closely we can walk each moment in His steps.18
Christ asked the question, “What manner of men ought [we] to be?” He then answered by saying we ought to be even as He is. (3 Ne. 27:27.)
“As one of His latter-day witnesses, I testify that He lives today. He is a resurrected Being. He is our Savior, our Lord, the very Son of God. I testify that He will come again as our glorified, resurrected Lord. That day is not far distant. To all who accept Him as Savior and Lord, His literal resurrection means that life does not end at death, for He promised: ‘Because I live, ye shall live also.’ (John 14:19.)”
Read or Listen to the entire lesson here:
FAMILY
General Conference is only two weeks away. What great privilege it is to be able to hear the inspired words and messages of our prophets and leaders. I always love the spirit that I feel especially those times which I have prepared for conference before hand. Are there things you and your family can do to be more prepared to receive the teachings? Do you have specific questions you would like to have answered? Now is the time to ponder and prepare. Next week I will share some ideas I have found to help us prepare for this special weekend. However, I would love to share your ideas too! Please send me things that your family does before hand or on conference day to make it more meaningful and special. (email to: drbennett1@hotmail.com)
Oh, how we need general conference! Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened. And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days.
We may not know all the reasons why the prophets and conference speakers address us with certain topics in conference, but the Lord does. President Harold B. Lee taught: “The only safety we have as members of this church is to … give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your [personal] views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6).”
Did you know that gospel topics for conference do not come easily for those giving the talks?
This principle is true for all members of the Church as we prepare to participate in ward, stake, and general conferences. We study out in our minds what we need and desire from Heavenly Father, and we pray to understand and apply that which we are taught. As the time for conference arrives, we sacrifice other activities, “lay[ing] aside the things of this world, [to] seek for the things of a better.”
Then we gather our families to hear the word of the Lord, as King Benjamin’s people did.
Children and youth love to be included. We make a serious mistake if we assume that the conference is above their intellect and spiritual sensitivity. To the young members of the Church, I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you. The Lord will tell you what He wants you to do with your life.
My brothers and sisters, I bear my special witness that the Lord Jesus Christ lives and stands at the head of this Church. This is His general conference. I promise you in His name that if you pray with a sincere desire to hear your Heavenly Father’s voice in the messages of this conference, you will discover that He has spoken to you to help you, to strengthen you, and to lead you home into His presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. - Elder Robert D Hales taken from conference address, "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony."
Read or listen to talk here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/general-conference-strengthening-faith-and-testimony?lang=eng
RELIEF
Happy Birthday to the Relief Society This Month!
Relief Society Purposes are to: Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness, Strengthen Families and Homes and Seek Out and Help Those in Need.
The Pure Love of Christ”: Charity in Action
“Our eternal happiness will be in proportion to the way that we devote ourselves to helping others.” -George Albert Smith- In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 71
Relief Society sisters in Europe experienced great devastation from World War II. They also demonstrated praiseworthy courage in serving one another in spite of harrowing conditions. They continued faithful and relied on their testimonies and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Their lives and testimonies from this period are truly inspiring.
After the war, Maria Speidel, who served as the president of the Germany Stuttgart District Relief Society, wrote:
“The past five years have been difficult ones and we have become very humble. Our trust in the Lord and our testimony of his Church have been our pillar of strength. He has kept us mercifully, and although there was much to suffer, he has given to us a measure of his strength. Some of us have lost all our earthly possessions, every tangible thing ever dear to us, and when we say ‘It is better to walk with God in the darkness than without him in the light,’ we know whereof we speak. …
"… With joy we sing the songs of Zion and put our trust in the Lord. He maketh all things well.”
Gertrude Zippro, another district Relief Society president, walked with God in the darkness many nights to love and serve her sisters. She lived in Holland at a time when the country was under military occupation. Because guards often stopped and searched travelers, she carried identification with her so she could visit branch Relief Societies in the district.
Gertrude Zippro, center, with her sisters and children
Daughters in my kingdom pg 76-77
Read, study, and learn more about the Relief Society in the "Daughters of Our Kingdom Book." Visit the website for some wonderful quotes and inspiring videos.
If you don't have your own copy, and would like a copy of the book. please see a member of the Relief Society Presidency.
SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD:
For some sharing the gospel is easy. That is not true for me. My husband has been a great example of sharing with others using pass-along cards. Elder Jeffrey Holland gave great missionary talk and mentions them in his talk, "Witness unto Me."
"For those who find it difficult to initiate missionary conversations—and many do—the Church’s newly produced pass-along cards are a lovely, effortless way to let others know some of your basic beliefs and how they may learn more."
President Gordon B. Hinckley said in a Churchwide broadcast:
“My heart reaches out to you missionaries. You simply cannot do it alone and do it well. You must have the help of others. That power to help lies within each of us. …
“Now, my brethren and sisters, we can let the missionaries try to do it alone, or we can help them. If they do it alone, they will knock on doors day after day and the harvest will be meager. Or as members we can assist them in finding and teaching investigators. …
“Brothers and sisters, all of you out in the wards and stakes and in the districts and branches, I invite you to become a vast army with enthusiasm for this work and a great overarching desire to assist the missionaries in the tremendous responsibility they have to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”"Thank you also for praying for the missionaries. Everyone prays for the missionaries. May it ever be so. In that same spirit, we should also pray for those who are (or who need to be) meeting the missionaries. In Zarahemla, members were commanded to “join in fasting and mighty prayer” for those who had not yet joined the Church of God. We can do the same.
We can also pray daily for our own personal missionary experiences. Pray that under the divine management of such things, the missionary opportunity you want is already being prepared in the heart of someone who longs for and looks for what you have. “There are many yet on the earth … who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” Pray that they will find you! And then be alert, because there are multitudes in your world who feel a famine in their lives, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.
Like all prophets and apostles, the Prophet Joseph Smith understood the deep meaning of John’s request when he said, “After all that has been said, [our] greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.” 10 I bear witness of that gospel and of Jesus Christ, who embodied it. I testify that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” 11 and that saving those souls through the redeeming Atonement of His Beloved Son is at the very heart of His work and His glory. 12 In pursuing that work I testify with Jeremiah that this last great missionary declaration to modern Israel will, in the end, be a greater miracle than ancient Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea. 13 That we will courageously and enthusiastically share the miracle of this message, I pray in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."
Elder Hollands talk gives great advice on carrying on a conversation with someone searching for the gospel. Read or listen to his talk here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/witnesses-unto-me?lang=eng
Relief Society Announcements:
The General Women's Broadcast will be held on Sunday, March 28th at 600 p.m. All women and girls 8 years and older re invited to attend. The meeting will be broadcast at the Stake Center from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Our next Relief Society activity will be attending the production of the "Women at the Well." This is a musical production recounting the experiences of may of the women who knew the Savior. It will be held on Thursday, April 2nd at the Old Burton Church (West Burton Building) at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments ill be served. The music and messages are inspiring.
Lesson Schedule for March:
March 1st- General Area Broadcast (see announcements)
March 8th- Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 5
March 15th - Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 6
March 22nd - Teachings For Our Time
March 29th - Bishop's Choice
March 8th- Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 5
March 15th - Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 6
March 22nd - Teachings For Our Time
March 29th - Bishop's Choice
Recipes on the blog:
If you have a recipe you would like to share send them to: drbennett1@hotmail.com or call or text them to 208-351-7083. We would love to have your favorite holiday recipes!
Visit the ward recipe blog: www.burton4threcipes.blogspot.com
Visit the Relief Society blog: www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com
Visit the Relief Society blog: www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com
