Because a few sisters have asked about the talk and resources referenced in Brother Alsop's depression lesson last week, here are the links to those and links to the rest of the February's lessons.
Brother Alsop:
"Like a Broken Vessel" (Elder Holland)
"Nine Things You Shouldn't Say to a Depressed Loved One (And What to Say Instead" (LDS Living)
February:
2nd - Presidency Lesson "Finding Happiness" (Elder Scott)
Catherine Craner's Notes:
After Kelly’s lesson a few weeks
ago, I went home and read the first lesson in the Joseph Fielding Smith manual.
(I hadn’t read it yet).Like Kelly, I had what I would
call, an “Awakening” about our Father in Heaven. Mostly about his LOVE for ME
as an individual, and how has interest in ME.
These are the scriptures that
particularly struck me as I read them:
In the Pearl of Great Price, in the
Vision of Moses, Moses is caught up into
an exceeding high mountain, and God talks face to face with Moses, and shows
unto him ALL the Children of men “to the latest generations,”
Moses
1:35 - The Lord says: “For Behold,
there are Many Worlds…. But all things
are unto me, for THEY ARE MINE, & I
KNOW THEM.
vs
37 - the Lord spoke saying, (Paraphrased) that the Heavens are many and
cannot be numbered unto man, but they are numbered unto me, for THEY ARE MINE.
Moses 7, the Lord speaks to Enoch and
shows him the nations of the earth, and Enoch
witnesses the Father weeping, in sorrow for his children’s disobedience. And Enoch asks, how can you weep? You’re the
Father, Holy, and from All eternity to all eternity? (meaning, how can this affect you, you have SO many children!)
However, in vs 29 & 30, Enoch
recognizes that even with the magnitude of Heavenly Father’s Children (which
are numberless), .. that “Thou are there
THERE, and thy bosom is there, and also thou are merciful and kind
forever.
When I read these scriptures, I
re-understood how much he loves me, and KNOWS me, & I imagined being
wrapped in the arms of his love, and I truly FELT his love. I had a spiritual witness come over me, about
GOD’s love for ME. It was a special
experience.
BECAUSE Heavenly Father loves me, (loves
all of US), he provided a plan for us. – “The Plan of Happiness.”
I realized that the name itself ,
infers that we are to be Happy! I know
that if I’m obedient to the plan, I will be happy for eternity, after I die, but I want to feel Happier NOW. Surely, Heavenly Father wants me to also be
happy NOW, in THIS LIFE.
So I went to LDS. org and typed in,
“Finding happiness” – found Elder Richard G Scott’s talk.
As I read this talk, Elder Scott
talked about how he woke from a dream: He said, “there flooded over me, feelings of
love and gratitude for our Heavenly Father.” He (Elder Scott) could not convey the unspeakable joy, the
feeling of being wrapped I pure love.
This description is of his
experience, was describing what I had just experienced. I could relate. And it seemed amazing to me
that I had just had that same “confirmation” of God’s love.
Then Elder Scott said something that
stuck a chord with me…. He said – “How easy it is to take for granted our relationship with our Father
in Heaven and his Beloved Son, our Master and Savior. Oh, how blessed are we that
they are as they say they are, perfect in every possible capacity and
attribute. Fundamental to their purpose is that you “might have joy” (2 Nephi
2:25).
As I read this talk, I thought to
myself, “Okay…I know Heavenly Father loves me, and I know the Plan of
Happiness, and I try my best to live it… but why am I feeling so unhappy, so
frequently?”
Then I read this paragraph:
“If you are one of the truly happy individuals who love your Father
in Heaven and are grateful for each day’s blessings, reaching out to others in
preference to thoughts of self, I rejoice for you. You have found a pattern of
life that will ever bring you happiness. I can do little more than encourage
you to continue to enjoy a life squarely centered in love of your Father in
Heaven, your Savior,”
“If, however, you are
among those who have not found a fullness of joy, even in your determination
to live the commandments of the Lord, I pray that you may feel how very
much your Father in Heaven loves you and wants you to be happy. I pray that you
will be stirred to recognize how infinitely blessed you are to have a
Father in Heaven, to have a plan that is perfect, to be able to acquire a
clear understanding of what brings happiness in life-- through pondering,
prayer, and application of his teachings.
Elder Scott went through SIX ways to “SEE” with greater clarity,
day to day, and be happy.
(these are summarized from
his talk)
1.
Guiding principles – What does he mean, “guiding principles?” He means, Rules that you live by. Your standards…. Like:
- Be honest, serve, don’t judge, be responsible, DON’T DEVIATE, no matter how it seems that circumstance would allow for departure
- Difficulties in life start, when small deviations from standards are justified
- Strength comes from making no exceptions.
- WHEN YOU CENTER YOUR LIFE IN TRUTH, YOU ARE ASSURED SUCCESS & HAPPINESS
2.Scriptures – As we read the
scriptures WITH FAITH in the Redeemer, and confidence and trust in the plan,
- You will receive great strength
- Feast upon the words. Fill your soul, like you’d fill your body, with daily nourishment, of GOOD FOOD. Not junk food
3.Temple Worship – temple
attendance has a calming, settling, consoling influence that distills peace and contentment.
(These are all needed in today’s fast lifestyle, & help us be happy
amidst the craziness.) The accompanying family history
work yields similar blessings.
4.Prayer – Prayers that bring
comfort, solace, direction and great inner strength are of the variety offered
by Enos. His
record teaches us the importance of PRAYING WITH FAITH IN CHRIST AND BEING DILIGENT IN KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.
5.Faith – Faith is abiding
trust in Truth. Enduring happiness
is rooted in unchangeable truth. Without
faith, we have fear, doubt, despair. Not
happy feelings. But Faith leads to hope.
Hope leads to happiness.
6.Good Music – (this is a very
tangable thing we can use to help us feel happy.) Good music, especially sacred music, helps us
feel the spirit. Helps prepare our emotions to respond to the promptings of the
Holy Ghost. Makes spiritual things more understandable.
Closing…
From pg 237 in Joseph Fielding Smith manual: (emphasis added)
“the Lord has spoken in OUR DAY… His message is one of Hope and Joy and Salvation. I promise
you that if you will walk in the Light of Heaven, be true to your trust, and
keep the commandments, you shall have Peace
and Joy IN THIS LIFE, AND in the life to come.”
--Joseph
Fielding Smith
9th - Lesson #3 "The Plan of Salvation" (Joseph Fielding Smith Manual)
16th - Lesson #4 "Strengthening and Preserving the Family" (Joseph Fielding Smith Manual)
23rd - Stake Conference
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