Week 5 'We'll Ascend Together'

Yes, I know I am a few weeks late, we were traveling pretty much the whole month of  May and I got off routine. But no worries, I'm back!

If you are new here, you can see the first post here. Last time I posted, you can see it here

This past week month we studied Sister Burton's talk: We'll Ascend Together

As I am sure you have all heard, Our beloved Elder Perry passed away yesterday. So in honor of him, we will review his talk from this past conference: Why Marriage and Family Matter - Everywhere in the World, for our discussion next week.

Alright, so for Sister Burton's talk:

Sister Burton begins by telling us how our Prophets and Apostles have treated their spouse. How they are so kind and loving towards them. We need to be so grateful for our beloved ones. They are so dear to us.

Sister Burton's talk reminds us of the divine roll of Father, and Mothers. But focusing on Fathers, it is a great reminder of their rolls, and how wives, and mothers, and women can work in compatibility with them.

She quotes President Benson:

"Oh, husbands and fathers in Israel, you can do so much for the salvation and exaltation of your families! Remember your sacred calling as a father in Israel - your most important calling in time and eternity - a calling from which you will never be released. You must help create a home where the Spirit of the Lord can abide."

A very good reminder for all of us!

She talks about the false messages of fathers in the world. One false message is "It's all about me" and another wrong message is that husbands and fathers are not needed.  How wrong these are!  Good Fathers and Husbands are needed!

She then talks how Husbands and Wives, mothers and fathers, men and women need to complement each other, and not compete with each other. She quotes the proverb, "Thee lift me and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together."

She mentions the example of our hands. How they are similar to each other but not exactly the same. In fact, they are opposites, but they complement each other and are suited to each other. Working together they are stronger. This is true for us as men and women. We are not the exact same, but working together we are stronger.

Her next section is ' Let us oft speak kind words to each other'.  What a good reminder to always speak kindly to those around us, especially our spouse!  she asks, "How often do we intentionally speak kind words to each other?"

She brings up 5 questions we can ask ourselves to better evaluate this in ourselves. I would challenge you to seriously ponder these questions. If these questions make us feel a tinge of guilt, or make us squirm, that is the spirit warning us of danger and protection from additional damage. Let us work toward being better at speaking kind words to each other.

Here are the questions:
1. When was the last time I sincerely praised my companion, either alone or in the presence of our children?
2. When was the last time I thanked, expressed love for, or earnestly pleaded in faith for him or her in prayer?
3. When was the last time I stopped myself from saying something I knew could be hurtful?
4. When was the last time I apologized and humbly asked for forgiveness--without adding the words "but if only you had" or "but if only you hadn't"?
5. When was the last time I chose to be happy rather than demanding to be "right"?

Sister Burton asks us, "Will you join me in seeking the help of the Holy Ghost to teach us how we can better lift each other in our complementary roles as covenant sons and daughters of our loving heavenly parents?"

I challenge you to answer these questions, then seek the help of the Holy Ghost to better lift each other.

Have a great week, and don't forget to study Elder Perry's talk this week:
Why Marriage and Family Matter - Everywhere in the World

Week 4: The Plan of Happiness

Hope you had a wonderful week! and were reminded about the real Plan of Happiness for us! If you are new this week, you can read the beginning of the Conference Challenge here, Or if you would like to see last weeks discussion, you can go here.

For this discussion we will be reviewing President Packard's talk: The Plan of Happiness 

For next week we will be studying Sister Burton's talk: We'll Ascend Together

So for 'The Plan of Happiness'

President Packard begins by expressing that having families and children is not an 'incidental part of the plan' it is the plan of happiness; it is the key to happiness' 

Its important to remember this, as we might get caught up in the day to day doings, and with children sometimes its easy to forget that families are THE Plan of Happiness. Nothing else matters, nothing else is as important. 

He talks about the mature love that married couples can develop. "Married couples are tried by temptation, misunderstandings, financial problems, family crises, and illness, and all the while love grows stronger. Mature love has a bliss not even imagined by newlyweds."

I can see the truth of this even in my short almost 6 years of marriage. I definitely love my husband more and deeper than I did when we first met and fell in love. Our love is growing, as it should be. 

He teaches that the power of procreation should only be used between a man and a woman, who are married. He talks of the miracle of birth and the coming of physical and spiritual parts to form our souls and who we are on earth. 

He also comments on repentance that, "when the repentance process is complete, no scars remain because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ." This is always a good reminder. And it applies to all degrees of repentance. The more serious sins, and the smaller sins. We all are in need of repentance and the Atonement provided by our Savior. 

President Packer is not ignorant of everyone's trials, and differences. He talks about how having children, or being married, might not happen for everyone. He says, "God is our Father! All the love and generosity manifest in the ideal earthly father is magnified in Him who is our Father and our God beyond the capacity of the mortal mind to comprehend. His judgments are just; His mercy without limit; His power to compensate beyond any earthly comparison." 

How wonderful to be reminded of this again. Our Father in Heaven truly loves us and He is understanding of our own situations and trials. Whatever our situation, He knows and He will still bless us according to our faith and obedience. 

I am grateful to have reread this talk. It has helped me to remember that families are the most important part of the Plan of Happiness. Families ARE the Plan of Happiness. And I am so grateful for my wonderful family!

Hope you felt uplifted and enlightened. Thanks for reading!  Have a great week, and see you next Sunday!