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