"Principals of True Repentance" - Ezra Taft Benson - Lesson 5
Doctrine:
"For those who pay the price required by true repentance, the promise is sure. You can be clean again. The despair can be lifted. The sweet peace of forgiveness will flow into your lives."
My beloved brothers and sisters, as we seek to qualify to be members of Christ’s Church—members in the sense in which He uses the term, members who have repented and come unto Him—let us remember these six principles:
First, the gospel is the Lord’s plan of happiness, and repentance is designed to bring us joy.
Second, true repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
Third, true repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior.
Fourth, part of this mighty change of heart is to feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Fifth, God’s gifts are sufficient to help us overcome every sin and weakness if we will but turn to Him for help.
Finally, we must remember that most repentance does not involve sensational or dramatic changes,
We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which
For those who pay the price required by true repentance, the promise is sure. You can be clean again. The despair can be lifted. The sweet peace of forgiveness will flow into your lives.
The words of the Lord through Isaiah are sure: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).
And in this dispensation the Lord spoke with equal clarity when He said, “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).
If we will strive to incorporate these principles into our lives and implement them on a daily basis, we shall then qualify to be more than members of record in the Church of Jesus Christ. As true members, we have claim to His promise: “Whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.” (D&C 10:69.)
Read or Listen to the entire lesson here:
Another great talk by Elder Holland is, "Broken Things to Mend"
When He says to the poor in spirit, “Come unto me,” He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up."
Read of listen to it here:
FAMILY
Have you read the article in this months Ensign entitled, "Talking about Tough Topics?" It gives some great advice. Here are the highlights:
"When your children face challenges, it’s important to talk to them in ways that will strengthen your relationship with them." - By Sheree Lyn Clarke - Clinical Psychologist, LDS Family Services
There are many difficult issues your children could face, such as bullying, bad language, cheating at school, same-sex attraction, eating disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts, for example. As a Latter-day Saint parent, you know you “have a sacred duty to rear your children in love and righteousness,”2 but how do you go about that when your children struggle with difficult issues, whether in their own lives or in the lives of their friends? Here are some guidelines:
Ask questions that invite conversation. You can ask a question like this: “It looks like something may be bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?” This question not only acknowledges that you have noticed that something is bothering your child, but it also opens a door for your child to share as much (or little) as he or she chooses.
Listen to understand. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “The time to listen is when someone needs to be heard. Children are naturally eager to share their experiences. … If they try to express their anguish, is it possible for us to listen openly to a shocking experience without going into a state of shock ourselves? Can we listen without interrupting and without making snap judgments that slam shut the door of dialogue? It can remain open with the soothing reassurance that we believe in them and understand their feelings. Adults should not pretend an experience did not happen just because they might wish otherwise.”
Show respect. The scriptures give excellent guidance on how to create an environment of love and respect. Notice some of the key words in Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–42: persuasion (not force), long-suffering (not immediate, forced compliance or impatience), gentleness (not loud, aggressive, intense communication), meekness (not proud or domineering responses), kindness (not cruel manipulation), and love unfeigned (genuine, sincere expressions of love). As we deepen our conversion, “the way we treat others becomes increasingly filled with patience, kindness, a gentle acceptance, and a desire to play a positive role in their lives.”
Control your anger. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty” (Proverbs 16:32), and “the spirit of contention … is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger” (3 Nephi 11:29). Anger drives away the Spirit and has the potential to destroy fragile parent-child relationships. In general conference, President Hinckley said, “I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier.”
Strengthen the relationship. All of these suggestions can be helpful, but if you can’t remember them when you are in the middle of a difficult conversation with your child, simply ask yourself, “How can I use this situation with my child as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship?” Then listen to and follow the inspiration you receive.
Keep trying. Parenting can be very difficult, yet you can succeed if you keep trying. President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95) offered these words of encouragement: “A successful parent is one who has loved, one who has sacrificed, and one who has cared for, taught, and ministered to the needs of a child. If you have done all of these and your child is still wayward or troublesome or worldly, it could well be that you are, nevertheless, a successful parent.”
Talking about challenges is difficult enough but can be even more so with teenagers, who are struggling to form their own identities—independent of their parents. Adolescents deal with enormous academic, emotional, and social pressures. Their belief and value systems are sometimes called into question by friends and peers. Their relationships with their parents can become fragile at this stage of their development, and it is not uncommon for teenagers to end up feeling confused, alone, anxious, uncertain, helpless, isolated, and even depressed.
Parents who understand and are sensitive to these developmental challenges can better help their teenagers at a time when they need their parents most.
Read or listen to the entire talk here: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/03/talking-about-tough-topics?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.
It used to be that during visiting teaching visits, the sisters would collect an offering for the poor. In 1944, it was decided that the Relief Society would discontinue the collection of charity funds by the visiting teachers. When this announcement was given, one lady said, "They have sounded the death knell of visiting teaching........who's going to want to go door to door just to visit?" Sister Belle S. Spafford, second counselor in the General Relief Society presidency spoke up and said, "I don't believe it's the death knell. I believe it is the rebirth of visiting teaching." That proved to be true. From then on the program began to flourish and women who had not served before asked to be visiting teachers.
Daughters in my Kingdom. Page 108-109
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:
LDS Living posted a great article on how to share the gospel online.
Church leaders encouraged Latter-day Saints to use technology and social media to hasten the work of salvation. Find out what you can do to follow this counsel with the tips below!
1. Follow the prophet and apostles on social media
The prophet and apostles have accounts on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. You can follow their pages to see inspiring posts and photos about their teachings. You can like these posts and photos, leave comments, and share them so that your friends can be inspired as well.2. Talk about the joys of the gospel
As you share your life with others on social media, be sure to let the light of the gospel shine through3. Participate in online gospel discussions
There are many ways to participate in gospel discussions online (see article for ways to do this)4. Post a review of your meetinghouse and temple
5. Share general conference with your friends
General conference may be one of the best ways to introduce your friends to the Church. There are many easy ways to invite your friends to watch conference. If you are not comfortable inviting them to your home or to your meetinghouse to watch it, tell them about all the ways they can watch it in their home on TV, radio, the Internet, mobile apps, and social media. (See conference.lds.org for details.)6. Connect with the world online
Keep in touch with those you have met, worked with, or served with.7. Become Facebook friends with missionaries
8. Set up your own Mormon.org profile
(Instructions were given in last weeks update or find the instructions again in the article)*Please see the article for more details on each of these tips. So many are waiting to hear the message we have to share. We never know who our messages will touch with little effort on our part.
Read the entire article here: http://www.ldsliving.com/story/78180-8-unique-and-painless-ways-to-share-the-gospel-online
Relief Society Announcements:
If you missed the Women of Christ's Fireside put on by the stake Sunday you can visit their blog: http://womenofchristfireside.blogspot.com/ to see the handouts and other resources used in the breakout classes.
Congratulations to Hurd's and Wolford's on the birth of their babies!
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
